The State of My State

PalatiumCare serves communities all over the US. We've learned, over the years, that all of these communities come with their own set of rules and regulations, especially when it comes to life safety systems.

Because nurse call systems are closely inspected, here are three important questions to ask before looking for a new nurse call system:

1. Is wireless technology allowed in my area?
It's very rare, but there are still some buildings, mostly skilled care, who are required to use hard-wired life safety systems. If this rule is still on the books in your community, it's worth the time to contact the office which handles your building's inspections to find out if there are plans to change this regulation. (Many states follow the AIA Guide for Health Care Facilities, which added specifications for wireless nurse call systems several years ago.)

2. Is my facility required to have corridor lights?
This is more common for skilled care. In fact, about half the states in the nation still require corridor and over-the-door lights to signal care givers. (PalatiumCare can integrate lights, but not all wireless systems can.) One of the big advantages of a wireless system is an easy and quick installation. The wiring required to run lights will not only slow the process down, it also inflates the cost. Because PalatiumCare tells you instantly where a call originated, lights are redundant.

3. Am I required to install devices in a bathroom?
Many facilities use portable pendants, which can go anywhere a resident goes. However, there are some states which require a call device in bathrooms -- both private and public. This is even the case in some states for Assisted Living facilities. Find out what's required before placing your order.

If you're not sure what the rules are for your area, call 888-725-2848. A PalatiumCare representative would be happy to share what they know about your area and point you in the right direction for getting more questions answered.

Disappearing Act

In recent months, we've learned that a couple major suppliers of nurse call systems are leaving the market. This will leave many facilities unable to purchase new equipment or call for service on a vital system within their building.

These companies go through a years-long process to phase out these systems. But with so many customers, and so many pressing concerns taking the attention of senior living administrators and owners, I would bet that many people will feel that their nurse call's disappearing act will come as a big, unpleasant surprise.

This situation highlights a problem that affects most nurse call companies. Because these proprietary nurse call systems only work with equipment created by the company, when the company goes out of business or discontinues a product, the customer is left with a non-functional system and tens of thousands of dollars of useless devices.

Before I explain how PalatiumCare resolves this issue, let me say that our company has no plans to leave the nurse call market. In fact, we feel like we're just getting started. However, if a plane were to fall from the sky and destroy PalatiumCare HQ, you can rest easy knowing that your investment is safe. PalatiumCare is non-proprietary, meaning that our equipment will work even if our software goes away.

PalatiumCare uses an Inovonics backbone, which continues to set the standard for wireless technology. We didn't feel the need to reinvent the wheel when it came to our devices, so the Inovonics backbone will work with other call systems if you decide that PalatiumCare just isn't working for you. Conversely, we can put our de-centralized operating system into any building that already uses Inovonics* technology. This not only allows for more flexibility during the life of your call system, but also provides an invaluable safety net in the unlikely event that something happens to us.

As the industry grows and changes, PalatiumCare is dedicated to staying non-proprietary and always using the most reliable technologies. So you'll never receive a letter from PalatiumCare indicating that you have to replace your entire nurse call system. Never.

To learn more about PalatiumCare or to find out if your system is one of those being phased out, call 888-725-2848.


*PalatiumCare uses the EN series of Inovonics technology.

One Call

I recently had an issue with my cable connection and had to call their customer service line. As a rule, I try to avoid calling for assistance. Often, I'm left on hold for several minutes, only to be told that I've called the wrong number. Sometimes, the person on the phone will offer to transfer me to the correct number and then promptly disconnect the call. In the unlikely event I reach the department or person that I actually need to speak to, I am almost always left waiting while that person consults twelve other people on how to resolve my issue. The whole thing is a mess.

I'm sure I'm not alone in my hesitation to reach out for help when I have a service or product that isn't working exactly as I expect it to. I also avoid human contact, when I can, when buying products. A click of my mouse on the computer, and the whole process is done.

At PalatiumCare, we're aware of the stigma that comes with having to call for customer service, and so we strive to make your experience as pleasant and expedient as possible. Our customer service mantra: "One Call". That's all you have to make, and you're immediately connected to a real person who can quickly assess your need and, if they can't help you, get you to someone who can.

Ninety-five per cent of PalatiumCare's customer service requests are handled over the phone, and most of those are completed within minutes. If we can't resolve the issue by just talking, trained technicians and customer service representatives can adjust settings on your system remotely, saving the cost of an onsite service call.

And for those people, like me, who prefer to do their shopping online, the PalatiumCare Online Store is available at www.palatiumcare.com/onlinestore/.

You Say E-Call, I Say Nurse Call

In my free time, I coach speech and acting for a local high school forensics team. So between my job as a salesperson and my time as a coach, most of my life is focused on good communication. It was frustrating, therefore, to start working in the Senior Living industry trying to sell a product that seems to have a hundred different names.

Nurse call. E-call. Emergency Response System. Call Lights. Call Cords. Paging System. Resident Alarms. And that doesn't include the long list of systems which have become synonymous with the devices themselves. And each of these terms, depending on where you're from, can mean something entirely different!

Let's call the whole thing off!

It was during my first year at PalatiumCare that I learned via personal experience, that a "nurse call system" was the most commonly recognized term for the product that we provide. What that means to us is a system that allows residents to reach out to caregivers in emergencies and for every day assistance, that provides concrete information to administrators, and that allows multiple-facility companies to compare results and find trends. Basically, it's all about good communication.

To find out more about how PalatiumCare can improve communication for your facility, call 888-725-2848 or email sales@palatiumcare.com.

Kirt Graves
kgraves@palatiumcare.com

Long time, no post

I probably shouldn't draw attention to the fact that this will be my first blog post of 2012. But the reason I haven't been posting is a great one: We've simply been too busy.

Since November of last year, PalatiumCare has entered several new states, we've traveled the country, we've introduced new products and devices, we've moved into a new office, we've added new dealers across the country, and we've had a lot of fun along the way. And so, I'm sorry not to have shared the journey with all of you.

I wish I could say that things have settled down, but they have not. New opportunities and new challenges are presenting themselves every day. A challenge for myself, however, is making sure that I make the time to share all the wonderful things that are happening here in the office and on the road. After all, one of PalatiumCare's greatest resources is our people. And their stories are worth sharing.

I also hope that this blog can be another avenue for folks to interact with PalatiumCare. Feel free to ask questions and share your experiences with us using the comments section of the blog. You can also get more information and interact with us by following @PalatiumCare on Twitter or liking our Facebook page. And, of course, our web site is constantly adding more information on PalatiumCare products and services.

Kirt Graves
kgraves@palatiumcare.com