Guadalupe Regional Medical Center | Health Currents | Winter 2021

Registering just got easier GRMC is now offering online preregistration for all radiology and surgery appointments, increasing convenience and providing an opportunity for less in-person contact for those who prefer it. This will give patients the ability to complete registration privately and conveniently prior to their appointments. Here’s what you can expect: 1 Before your visit, you will receive a text or email with a secure link to complete forms, upload documents, access cost estimates, pay your bills and more. 2 Leading up to your appointment, you will receive helpful reminders and pre-arrival instructions, if applicable. 3 Upon arriving at the facility on the day of your appointment, you can alert the staff you have arrived and receive instructions on where to go next—all from your mobile device. There is no app to download or username or password to remember. This new process is in response to a growing need for a convenient, digital patient experience in healthcare. But, of course, if you prefer not to complete your preregistration steps digitally, your GRMC staff will be more than happy to assist you in person. grmedcenter.com  | 5 Investing in your comfort and safety Even the most basic of healthcare needs—the bed on which our inpatients rest during their hospital stay—has been updated with the latest in healthcare technology. GRMC recently invested almost $1 million in the purchase of 75 new Stryker patient beds to enhance patient safety, patient experience and caregiver safety. These mattresses are filled with a specially formulated gel that prevents the development of pressure sores, as well as providing a very comfortable rest and sleep experience. An inflatable air bladder under the mattress can be used by the nurse to gently turn the patient over in a manner that is comfortable for the patient and safe for the caregiver, allowing for frequent skin assessments and assistance in moving the patient. These beds are even technologically smart, utilizing iBed Wireless functions that instantly alert the nursing staff if the bed’s brakes, height, side rails or head incline are not in the ideal position for patient safety. Each bed is also integrated with the patient’s electronic medical record to document important information, such as weight, and to assist with patient rounding. GRMC is one of only 43 hospitals in the nation to have implemented this particular smart bed technology, and one of only two healthcare systems in Texas to have made this significant investment.