In 2021, Hepro AS won a tender to supply patient and staff alert systems to residential and activity centers, institutions, and municipal care homes in Bodø Municipality.
The agreement will last for a maximum of four years. During this period, the replacement of patient and staff alert systems is planned at about 10 municipal locations. In addition, Røst and Rødøy municipalities can use the framework agreement through established cooperation agreements with Bodø Municipality.
“Hepro was chosen as the supplier because they scored best on the specified award criteria in the procurement process,” says Anette Skogstad, Advisor in the Administration and Development Team for eHealth (ForUT) in Bodø Municipality.
“We had varying needs and require systems that are both future-oriented and adaptable to different and changing requirements. In addition, it is very important that RoomMate can be integrated into the solution, as well as integration with the Welfare Technology Hub. We experience high-quality deliveries and a consistent project methodology for all deliveries. This makes the deliveries more predictable for us as a customer. At the same time, it is nice to work with the same project organization for each delivery.”
Key Account Manager Trond Haakonsen and Project Manager Kenneth Sundvoll from Hepro AS have been particularly responsible for the deliveries to Bodø Municipality. Stadiontunet Nursing Home was the first location to implement the new solution in June 2022. Sentrum Nursing Home is the most recent project delivered so far.
“I join the project when Trond and the rest of the sales team have finished their part and the delivery is specified,” says Project Manager Sundvoll.
“I am responsible for all technical aspects and for planning the details together with the customer. We have weekly status meetings throughout the project to ensure everything goes as planned. It is also my responsibility to make sure electricians and other subcontractors do their jobs as agreed. Occasionally, we encounter minor challenges along the way, but together with the client and subcontractors, we usually resolve them smoothly. This has also been the case in the four projects we have delivered here in Bodø so far,” says Kenneth Sundvoll.
According to Trond Haakonsen, Bodø Municipality is now installing an innovative and future-oriented system in its institutions and nursing homes.
“The heart of the solution is a patient alert system developed by Hepro. With this, users can call for assistance from healthcare personnel when needed. The solution has a positioning function that makes it quick and easy for staff to locate the user who needs help. If a service recipient triggers an alarm somewhere other than their own room, they will be located at the nearest positioning node, for example, in a lounge or corridor. The solution also functions as a wander alarm system, so if a service recipient leaves the ward or exits through one of the doors, an alarm can be triggered. This ensures that service recipients do not leave the building or ward without being noticed. The positioning function for triggered alarms also applies to staff; if they press their alarm button, colleagues receive a notification on their mobile phones and can see where the staff member is located,” says Haakonsen, adding that the RoomMate alert sensor is also part of the delivery to several of the nursing homes in Bodø Municipality.
Bodø Municipality has ordered access control at two locations, both of which will be completed just after the summer.
“The solution ensures that residents have access to their own rooms, but not necessarily to other service recipients’ rooms or staff areas. With just a light touch on the door handle, the user’s access rights are checked, and the door opens in a second.
From the outside, doors can only be opened with authorization, but from the inside, they are always open. Residents are therefore not locked in,” says Trond Haakonsen, noting that staff report fewer incidents with this solution.
“They have more time to care for the patients. There is no pressure in daily work, which leads to a relaxed environment in the nursing home. All access is controlled and can be easily programmed.
All service recipients have technology physically on them in the form of an alarm necklace or bracelet, allowing them to access their own rooms. In addition, the wander alarm functionality is built into the technology, positioning the person when an alarm is triggered.
The solution also comes with fire control, so resident doors open automatically in the event of a fire. The doors can always be opened from the inside, but sometimes residents need assistance.
Additionally, the solution ensures that they do not have access to areas that may pose a danger, such as sluice rooms, storage, or laundry rooms. For staff, the solution also ensures that service recipients cannot enter staff rooms or changing rooms.”
Both Haakonsen and Sundvoll speak highly of ForUT and Bodø Municipality.
“We have met skilled people who understand a lot about the technology and the possibilities that come with modern welfare technology,” praises Trond Haakonsen, and Kenneth Sundvoll fully agrees.
“We have had a very good dialogue with the customer all the way. It’s the same skilled people we deal with on all projects, which naturally makes the job much easier. They are an organized customer to work with, always doing their part regarding deadlines and such,” says Sundvoll, who recently conducted training sessions for caregivers and super users over three days so that everyone has the opportunity to participate and get a good introduction to the solution.
“That’s the last thing we do before the system is put into use. All caregivers receive a course with a review of all functions, so they feel confident using the system. Bodø Municipality has also subscribed to several modules on the SkillAid learning platform, and we like to reassure caregivers that when they forget what I told them today, they can find the answer on their mobile phone when they need it. The mobile and the Hepro app with SkillAid are all they need. We all love SkillAid,” Sundvoll smiles.
