As the patient population changes, hospitals and healthcare manufacturers must work together to identify evolving patient needs and develop innovative products to meet them. Encompass Group has made it our mission to help our customers improve patient comfort and safety within their facility. Our dedication to this led to one of our most recent new products: the Evolution™ Patient Apparel, which recently received a 2017 Innovative Technology designation from Vizient, Inc.
This designation was based on direct feedback from hospital experts who interacted with Evolution™ Patient Apparel at the Vizient Innovative Technology Exchange in Denver on September 14, 2017. Vizient represents a diverse membership base that includes academic medical centers, pediatric facilities, community hospitals, integrated health delivery networks and non-acute healthcare providers, and represents more than $100 billion in annual purchasing volume. Through its Innovative Technology Program, Vizient works with member-led councils and task forces to review potentially innovative products.
Evolution™ Patient Apparel meets the Triple Aim in Healthcare
Encompass Group designed the new Evolution™ Behavioral Health Patient Pajamas in anticipation of the industry-wide increase in behavioral health populations, particularly as addiction recovery services and behavioral health management needs continue to rise. The Evolution™ Pajamas were recognized as an innovative product for their intentional design to address the Triple Aim in healthcare:
- Population Health – forest green color allows for quick visual identification of at-risk populations without compromising privacy.
- Cost per Capita – cost-effective alternative to reusable products in high volume/high loss treatment areas.
- Patient Experience – the garments’ material provides superior softness and a level of comfort that is comparable to traditional fabrics.
Improving behavioral health patient comfort and safety through apparel
From a patient perspective, the pajamas provide superior comfort, through soft materials and a lightweight elastic waistband to securely holds pants in position and protect patient dignity. Even the calming color was consciously selected to help soothe patients managing behavioral health issues.
However, protecting patient safety was also a priority in design; switching to disposable clothing that has no bindings, no drawstring and no pocket in the pants, hospital caregivers can better ensure patient safety and prevent self-harm.
“The new Evolution™ Pajamas focus on comfort and safety for the behavioral health patient population,” said Kelley Terrell, Marketing Director, Techstyles Nonwoven Product Lines. “Evolution™ Patient Apparel provides a safe, comfortable and convenient alternative to more expensive reusable products in high-volume usage and high-loss treatment areas.”
In response to rising behavioral health needs, acute care facilities can proactively address patient care needs by transitioning behavioral health apparel from reusable to disposable product lines. If you are looking to adopt innovative products in your behavioral health unit or have questions about how you could improve patient safety and comfort, call 1-800-245-4636 or email me today. I’d love to share more about the products we can offer you to meet the unique needs of your behavioral health patients!
