C a l l b a l l
Our Story
The Call Ball production model grew from a basic prototype that was made by ISAR LLC for a Quality Improvement (QI) project. The QI project was done with the aim of trying to solve the dilemma of patients who are positioned in the hallways of a Level I Trauma Center Emergency Department with no way to call for assistance. The results of that QI project were overwhelmingly positive responses from patients, staff, and visitors in the areas of effectiveness at signaling staff, reliable operation, and ease of use of the Call Ball.
The unfortunate necessity of having to locate patients and clients in hallways or waiting rooms while being treated is a nationwide problem. When these patients are located in a hallway or common area, they are often not subject to the same mandated codes for patient alert systems as the remainder of hospital patients who have a room. These patients find themselves in a 'limbo', lacking privacy, and in a very hectic environment while they wait for a room to open or to be admitted. In most hallway situations they also discover that they have no way to call for help. Those that are positioned away from an effective alert method run the risk of falls, medical events, dissatisfaction, and bad behaviors such as yelling out, physically reaching out, throwing objects, and wandering. These all contribute to a negative experiences and perceptions by the patients, visitors, and staff.
The Call Ball provides a simple non-audible visual beacon that is easily identified by all staff as the signal that a patient is requesting assistance or attention. The Call Ball was designed and built to withstand the rigorous environment of an Emergency Room hallway, Open-Bay Wards, Military field hospitals, FEMA temporary/expedient hospitals, or other health care or long-term care facilities. Wherever there is a line of sight between a staff member and the patient that they are responsible for, the solution is the Call Ball.
our competition
Our search for solutions....
- Bluetooth Transmitters: These types of call activation buttons use Bluetooth technology to transmits a signal to a central monitoring station. There are several problems with that. The buttons are usually small, roughly 2.5" across and easily lost. They also appeared too fragile for the environment they must be used in. The chances of these being lost in the sheets or thrown out with the laundry are considerable - we decided that for the cost of that system (between $2500 - $7000) and the likelihood for loss or damage would not make these viable for ER hallway patients.
- Beyond that, the task of matching hallway stretcher patients' exact location and nurse assignment to the central monitor station would be daunting and chronically not up to date. Adding that administrative task to a busy nurse would be a time-consuming distraction away from patient care. If the unit secretary were made responsible for keeping call button assignments organized it would pull that person away their workstation several times a day, leaving the phone and 'real' staff alert system unattended.
Finally, the call from the patient's button has to transmit to the central monitor, then a call
or page must take place to get the alert to the nurse, ER Tech, or other staff member assigned to
the patient. This time from patient activation to nurse notification will be a potentially long
variable that we found to be too unpredictable and undesirable.
- Because there is always a LINE OF SIGHT between the hallway patient and assigned Nurse and ED Tech, we hypothesized that a simple visual alert would be the quickest and most easily implemented solution. We began a search for a simple light, with a cord leading to a switch. Our search included every single retailer worldwide (regardless of it being medical equipment - we would have used a Christmas ornament if we could have found one!) and to our surprise THERE IS NO SUCH THING as a Light on a Cord with a Switch available to purchase (never mind one that is constructed to meet the requirements for durability and sanitation required for use in a hospital).
- CMS and The Joint Commission do not have requirements for alert system availability for patients located in hallways. The remainder of patients in the hospital or healthcare facility do require that they have access to a centrally monitored alert system. The system requirements must meet Underwriters Laboratory code 1069 (UL1069). These same codes and requirements must also be followed as building codes for new healthcare facility construction. The patients located in the hallway is usually considered a 'disaster' situation and not subject to that oversight. The truth is that patients are routinely positioned in a hallway (or treatment and testing begin while they are still in the waiting room!). This happens regularly throughout the world, no disaster involved.
- The CALL BALL is the only product currently available for this purpose. We designed it specifically for use in a hospital environment. All materials and components were selected for durability and an ability to be cleaned with either 20% alcohol wipes or soap and water. The Call Ball has been thoughtfully designed with the patient and care provider in mind. It's simple concept and silent operation avoids any contribution to 'Alarm Fatigue' or further disruption to a noisy hallway. It provides an immediately recognizable indicator that a patient within the sight line of the clinician needs something.
- The Call Ball is, the ONLY, the FIRST, and the BEST product for this task and this population. Made in Maine, USA - None Finer.
Use of the call ball
The CALL BALL provides a quick and reliable visual alert to the following ...
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT HALLWAYS
WAITING ROOMS
OPEN BAY WARDS in MILITARY FIELD HOSPITALS and FEMA EMERGENCY EXPEDIENT HOSPITALS
COMMON AREAS:
EXAMPLES: Courtyards, Day Rooms, Porches and Patios - wherever clients or patients may congregate and are within the sight of staff who may respond to the Call Ball.
UNCOMMON AREAS:
EXAMPLES: Inpatient floors may sometimes have patients that are occupying a hall space due to crowding and are away from the usual alert system. Likewise, patients and clients that are located in chairs or wheelchairs in hallways may benefit from the use of the Call Ball. In both examples, the user of the Call Ball must be within the line of sight for those who are responsible for their care or able to respond to the light when it is activated.
DURING TRANSPORT:
Many facilities may choose to equip each of their stretchers with a Call Ball. This would allow for patients who are left to wait for imaging, or other procedures, an option to call for staff if needed. The patient must be left within visual sight of a staff member who can see when the Call Ball is activated.
How to: Call Ball Use
Simplified Instructions for Use
1. Provide the Call Ball to the Hallway located patient.
2. The patient presses the switch when they need something.
3. The patient gets what they need.