Hospital communication systems need professional grade two-way radios for a number of reasons, but especially during disasters or health crisis like the COVID-19 virus scare. After all, when it comes to cring for human lives, efficiency, timeliness, and safety are the keys to giving patients the best care possible, and two-way radios help hospital professionals accomplish all of these objectives with simple push-to-talk technology.

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But who is responsible for including 2-way radios in the list of tools hospitals should have? Well, in most hospital across the country there is an Emergency Preparedness Department (EPD). According to the Department of Homeland Security, this department should be run by one person, often referred to as the “Chairman”, and a committee that helps guide and provides recommendations. The Chairman is responsible for the overall management of the EPD, and should possess certain knowledge and skills, such as:

• An operational understanding of emergency management and the Incident Management System (IMS)
• Detailed knowledge of their healthcare facility’s emergency response operations,
• Familiarity with facility safety operations and available emergency response tools
• Familiarity with community emergency response system

Healthcare facilities should include the following specialties in the Emergency Preparedness Department:

• Burn services
• Clinical pharmacology/toxicology
• Critical care services (medical and nursing)
• Dietary
• Emergency medicine and nursing
• Internal medicine
• Infection control/infectious disease
• Lab/blood bank/pathology (including morgue)
• Medical director
• Nursing supervisor
• Pediatrics
• Pharmacy
• Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)
• Psychiatry
• Radiology (including radiation safety)
• Residents and students
• Surgery
• Trauma services

Obviously, running an Emergency Preparedness Department is incredibly challenging because of the scope of its responsibility, and the number of people involved. That’s why when it comes to managing any healthcare facility or Emergency Preparedness Department, two-way radios should be included into any communications system. No matter what department or what issue is being addressed, two-way radios help workers to communicate instantly when it matters most.

5 Reasons Hospitals Need Two-Way Radios

If you are the Chairman of the Emergency Response Department or are an active member, here are 5 reasons why two-way radio communication help all hospitals and their emergency preparedness departments, and why they should be considered as essential tools for all healthcare operations.

• Improved real-time communication

Real-time communication among staff members can improve service within medical facilities. It provides a reliable experience for patients and visitors where hospital workers can respond swiftly.

• Increased productivity – mobile efficiency

Hospital facilities are complicated structures, occupied not only by doctors and nurses but also cooks, security guards, and volunteers. In many instances, these departments must work together or communicate with each other. Utilizing two-way radios allows hospital departments to seamlessly communicate with each other without having to drop whatever they are doing. Radios offer staff a mobile, efficient option for responding to other members. No more wasting time searching an address book or spending time reading text messages. Workers have a direct, push-to-talk option for answering calls.

• Quick response to emergencies

By using professional-grade two-way radios, emergency incidents can be addressed in literally seconds. If professional grade two-way radios are used, any first-responder will always have the right information, improving the outcome of crisis scenarios.

• Enhanced safety and security

Heavy duty two-way radios are critical for a safe and secure surrounding. Patients, staff, and visitors need to feel safe within and around medical facilities. Heavy-duty radios provide high-performance communication, which is reliable when dealing with security matters.

• Facility maintenance and disaster preparedness

To ensure that everything runs smoothly, it is important to have the facility maintained, with proper preparation in case disaster strikes. Collaboration is necessary during the maintenance process, where each party must respond accordingly. What better way to do this than to integrate two-way communication devices?