Deaf, Blind and speech-impaired patients to "hear,see and speak," for the first time, over LifeLinks' bedside patient information system,thereby regaining significant independence,--and the system is free to hospitals that participate in the LifeLinks system.
October 24,2003,Hackensack,N.J. For the first time, disabled,hospitalized patients will no longer be at the mercy of a healthcare system which, while well-intentioned, lacks the ability to provide deaf, blind and speech-impaired persons with the tools to receive adequate information on which to make an informed decision on a par with non-impaired patients. LifeLinks' revolutionary bedside technology will enable patient's to access a refreshable Braille keyboard display,text magnifying and voice recognition software, and a speech synthesizer, thereby empowering them to regain significant independence.
LifeLinks @Home in the Hospital, a little company with enormous technology,
discipline and concern for the disabled, is making its indelible mark on the
healthcare industry for the betterment of the disabled by enhancing their
independence.
Thanks to its bedside patient information and entertainment
system, which provides a 15 inch touch screen monitor and a computer attached to
the over-the-bed food table, just inches from the patient, the deaf,blind and
mute(e.g.from stroke or cervical injuries)can access the most sophisticated
technology available.e.g. (1) a refreshable Braille display which enables a deaf
patient to read scanned consent forms, discharge instructions as well as to
translate computer text from a word processor to Braille output so that they can
"read" a book with their fingers and respond with their minds via their
fingers,(2) the "speaking screen" which vocally reads the words on the monitor
through speak synthesis,(3) voice recognition for individuals lacking
dexterity,e.g. severe osteoarthritis,or otherwise deficient hand function,so
that as they speak, their words appear on the monitor, (4) a screen enlarger
capable of increasing font to 7 times normal size, (5) surrogate input devices
for those who have only the use of their mouth,e.g, those with high spinal cord
injuries.(6) voice annotation,enabling highlighting and bookmarking of on-screen
text,using one's voice,etc.
No other company offers this service to the
hospitalized disabled patient because of LifeLinks' unique technology, which
places the monitor and computer close to the patient.Because LifeLinks system is
modular,it can be readily updated as new technology arrives, which is
practically, daily.The LifeLinks system is also capable of being upgraded to
provide medication verification and provider/patient authentication, thereby
reducing medical errors.This data would run on a parallel but separate network,
and use the same equipment,thus providing significant cost savings to the
hospital over systems offered by Cardinal Health,McKesson,Siemens and
Philips.
Aging baby boomers stand to benefit when their hearing
fails,because they may not be trained in sign language.DCARA will provide
real-time on-screen transcription of hospital health care provider's
conversations and instructions for patients who are hard of hearing.The
conversation between patient and health care provider can be monitored by the
remote transcriptionist through the LifeLinks in-monitor telephone. The
physician's/nurses words appear immediately on the monitor screen.No sign
language interpreter is necessary.
LifeLInks is working with DCARA,(The
Deaf Counseling, Advocacy and Referral Agency) based in San Jose, California, an
agency “Of, By and For” deaf, deaf-blind, deafened, and hard of hearing people."
DCARA's mission is to enable deaf people to live independent, productive lives,
with full access to the rights,privileges, entitlement services, and
opportunities available to those who can hear.DCARA will also provide real-time
on-screen captioning, simultaneously, on the same screen on which the sign
language interpreter will be viewed by the patient who knows sign
language.LifeLinks intends to be the leader and technologic innovator in
bringing the benefits of technology to the disabled.
Hill-Rom Inc., the
largest hospital furniture manufacturer on the planet, is the manufacturer of
the over-the-bed food table which LifeLinks(www.LifeLinks.net) modifies
for the disabled patient. LifeLinks is capable of manufacturing one thousand
bedside units per month.
"Technology to Promote Independence of the
Disabled."
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2003/10/prweb86021.htm