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10.2008
G&T Industries launches "Patient Communication Board" at Planetree
Byron Center, Michigan...Today's most successful health care settings combine optimum communications and home-like aesthetics, according to G&T Industries, which is launching a new product designed to accelerate the trend.
As the name suggests, the wall-mounted Patient Communication Board by G&T® helps patients, caregivers and relatives keep in touch with each other in many aspects of a treatment plan. What's more, Patient Communication Board helps promote a more comfortable and home-like environment—another recuperative strategy—by offering upscale residential aesthetics.
Patient Communication Board by G&T is being launched at Planetree's 2008 Annual Conference in Chicago Oct. 20–22. Planetree is a nonprofit organization promoting a philosophy of "patient-centered" care.
"We are honored to be launching this product to an audience of some of the top medical people working today," says Terry Mead, Vice President for Marketing and Merchandising at G&T. "Initial reactions from the people who've seen Patient Communication Board have been most encouraging. The board brings together some long-successful tools used by nurturing professionals, and introduces some new ones.
An advisory board of clinicians convened by G&T Industries worked on the project. Members reported that in conventional care settings, a clock, a mirror and a markerboard often are scattered all over a patient's room in a manner that contributes to a sense of disorientation and disorder. The Patient Communication Board, on the other hand, is designed to bring them together into a central, easy-to-find location.
Geared to results beyond the patient care setting, Patient Communication Board can support a hospital system's key strategic goals, like effective education of the patient's support network, organization of patient paperwork, and well-orchestrated discharging of patients. All these contribute to better outcomes for patients and their communities.
"The idea for the Patient Communication Board came from a long-time nurse and hospital administrator who saw an opportunity to enhance coordination and communication in order to improve care," says Mike Arents, Director of New Business Development at G&T. "When everyone around the patient gets on the same program, quality of care—and quality of life for everyone involved—can be significantly enhanced."
Chief among the benefits of Patient Communication Board is flexibility, according to Arents. "Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities have differing performance needs, and the patient board allows for each to custom-design the board to meet their unique objectives," he says.
A small Patient Communication Board, measuring two feet wide by three tall, allows for three "modules"—like a clock, a markerboard, or a discharge planner. A large Patient Communication Board, four feet wide and three tall, allows for six modules. Finishes include rich cherry veneers and contemporary anodized aluminum.
G&T made environmental stewardship a key criterion during product development. Recycled aluminum, formaldehyde-free substrates and water-based adhesives help keep the Patient Communication Board's carbon footprint small.
Planetree is a most appropriate venue for the launch of Patient Communication Board because it allows attendees to weigh in on the current set of modules—and suggest some new ones, according to Arents. "We'll have 'concept modules' at the show to test and validate the more imaginative ideas for modules, and we'll invite clinicians, facility managers and administrators to dream up news ways for the product to enhance communication and care," he says.
G&T Industries was founded in 1954 and has since created foam products and coverings for the marine, aviation, office, recreational vehicle and packaging industries, in addition to offering decorative wallcoverings. The company also manages logistics internationally. G&T Industries is 100 percent employee-owned, making it one of only 2,000 such organizations in the U.S.
For more information, contact:
Mike Arents or Janet Lemson
800.968.6035
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