Brockville General Hospital’s new wrist bracelet warning system has been working well since the replacement in March.
The WanderGuard bracelets are given to patients who may wander as a result of a condition like dementia or if they confuse where they are due to medication.
Deanne Henson is the Manager of the Medical/Surgical Program at the Brockville General Hospital. She says the electronic bracelet system has a sensor at each entrance and exit to their One East medical/surgical floor. Henson adds when a patient has a bracelet placed on their wrist, this will cause the alarm to sound at the location they’re exiting on the medical/surgical floor and near the nursing station, as well, if they exit past a sensor.
Henson notes they believe it’s excellent for patients to be able to have essentially more freedom.
The Hospital has previously had a system in place and over the last couple of years they have not been able to get replacement parts. The new system was purchased by the Brockville General Volunteer Association (BGVA). BGVA raises money through the Eleanor’s Cafe and gift shop programs. The money raised goes to new equipment and services to enhance the patient care at the Hospital.
Henson explains the number varies for how many people use the bracelets at a time.
Henson thinks the system is an excellent benefit to the patient population that they’re serving.