The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and Palarum LLC have entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement Program (CRADA) to evaluate the Palarum PUP (Patient is UP) Fall Prevention System designed to reduce inpatient falls.
This project is intended to support ongoing VA efforts to improve patient safety and enhance nursing staff efficiencies.
According to the company, the Palarum PUP (Patient is UP) Fall Prevention System utilizes a specially designed patient smart sock that incorporates patented eTextile and IOT technology that provides real-time monitoring of patient movement. Combined with an enhanced wireless alert system, the PUP socks are designed to immediately detect and notify the closest staff that a safety event has occurred from a high-risk patient.
“Falls are particularly important because they are a major cause of preventable injury and disability around the world that disproportionally impacts older adults. As a result, we have been developing innovative ways to prevent falls and the devastating consequences.”
— Thomas Osborne MD, Director of the VA National Center for Collaborative Healthcare Innovation, and Chief Medical Informatics Officer at VA Palo Alto Healthcare System
“As a healthcare professional and retired Lt. Col USAF, I am especially proud to be partnering with the VA Palo Alto Health Care System to demonstrate the benefits of the PUP sock technology and its ability to reduce patient falls, thereby increasing the safety of our hospitalized Veterans.”
— Patrick Baker, Palarum’s president and CEO
[Source(s): Palarum, PR Newswire]
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Interesting technology