Healthcare workers who provide in-home care services and visits can present hazards. Patients might have hazards in their homes, or the patient or other people in the home might present a risk. Real-time monitoring and check-in procedures can help protect home care workers. Here’s how:
Real-time monitoring by a live agent
CommAlert’s lone worker safety program includes 24-hour monitoring by a highly trained, live agent. That means a real person is looking out for the worker, ensuring their checking in and escalating call-out procedures when they don’t. If the worker feels they are in a risky situation, they can quickly contact their monitor via phone, text or push a button on an app.
Knowing that a person is looking out for them and that it is their primary task can help workers feel confident and safe. In addition, many of our lone workers build relationships with our agents over time, and they really feel someone has got their back.
Automated check-in reminders
Lone workers will receive automated alerts reminding them to check-in. Usually, we complete a live-person check-in at the start and end of the shift. We believe a human connection helps workers feel more at ease.
We will also work with you and your healthcare worker’s specific situation to determine the right check-in frequency. It’s essential they feel in control and can increase or decrease check-in frequency depending on each situation. For example, they might require a higher frequency of check-ins if dealing with a patient known for aggression or unpredictability.
Emergency response
We initiate a call-out procedure if a worker fails to check in and the agent cannot reach them. Our agent will start calling people on your emergency contact list in the order provided. In addition, we can determine the GPS location of the worker so we know where to send help if the situation escalates. When necessary, emergency services will be alerted and sent to help.
Helping home care workers stay safe.
Your organization and workers can improve safety by following safety protocols. Work alone monitoring is a big piece of that puzzle and can give workers peace of mind when on the job.
Your organization must work with your employees to perform comprehensive hazard assessments for each patient’s location and visit. When doing so, consider the patient’s mental health, risks from others in the household, hazards in the building or home, and if there are any risks in providing specific treatment or care.
Learn more about how CommAlert’s lone worker monitoring services help keep home care nurses and health care workers safe.
