The Role of Hydration Stations in Hospitals: Keeping Medical Staff and Patients Refreshed
Hydration is important for everyone. All people can benefit from staying properly hydrated, as this is one of the foundational elements of human health.
That importance is highlighted in the case of medical staff and hospital patients. For staff, being hydrated throughout their shift will help them think clearly and provide excellent care. For patients, staying hydrated can help in the recovery process, supplying them with the fluids they need to heal.
For hospitals, adding hydration stations at strategic locations throughout the building is a great way to keep clean, fresh water (and other drinks) close at hand for workers and patients alike. To learn more about bringing this plan to life in your facility, get in touch with InReach today.
Supporting the Demands of Hospital Staff
Hospital staff face multiple challenges during an average shift. The first is pressure. Caring for people takes an emotional toll, and the job is stressful. It’s important to stay mentally sharp in the face of this pressure to execute the work properly.
The matter of long shifts also needs to be considered. Healthcare workers commonly stay on the job for 12 hours or longer at a time. This is a demanding schedule that makes the already difficult work even harder to manage.
Good hydration can’t completely solve these problems, but it can certainly help. Slight dehydration can lead to issues such as fatigue, impaired focus, and reduced performance. With hydration stations in hospitals added in spots like nurse stations, break rooms, and staff lounges, it will be more convenient than ever for these professionals to get the fluids they need without falling behind.
Creating a Patient-Centered Environment
Healthcare workers don’t always have the time to check in on each patient and make sure they are drinking as much water as they should be. They’ll try to provide that reminder, of course, but there are a lot of patients to manage and only so many hours in the day.
This is why making water (and other beverages) readily available is a good idea. A hydration station located on a patient floor or in a waiting room can be used easily by anyone in the area. You may also wish to add signage that reinforces the importance of staying hydrated.
Another benefit of having a hospital hydration station available to patients is that this feature can cut down on the demands placed on staff throughout the day and night. When some patients are able to get their own water conveniently, they won’t have to ask to be provided water by the nurse or another worker.
Ensuring Ongoing Compliance
There are countless rules and regulations that apply to virtually everything that is done inside a hospital. Those rules are in place for the health and safety of the patients and the workers, but they can be complicated to navigate without the right experience or knowledge.
This is why it’s important to work with a partner for hydration services who understands healthcare and can navigate the process with you. Teaming up with InReach will ensure that you aren’t alone at any point along the way and that the hydration stations and other features you add to the building are in compliance and an appropriate fit for the hospital setting.
Make Hydration Easy
It’s not that people don’t know they should stay hydrated. Most people understand the importance of hydration, but they get caught up in the busyness of life and forget to drink as much as they should. That’s where a hydration station comes to the rescue. With the right beverages always available in the right places, hydration levels throughout the hospital will go up, and workers and patients alike will enjoy better outcomes.
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