MANSFIELD — Malfunctions with outdated medical pull stations inside each room at Dayspring Assisted Living & Care Facility have reinforced the need for upgrades.
Dayspring Executive Director Michelle Swank told the Richland County Board of Commissioners on Thursday the current nurse call system is being triggered “for no reason.”
“To the point that we actually had to move a resident out of his room because it was going off every 30 minutes, so it’s a problem,” Swank said.
The executive director said she’d prefer to move on from Dayspring’s current provider, citing customer service issues.
Suggestions of new providers were sought from other county facilities around the state — similar to Dayspring — and TechCo Life Safety Systems Inc. out of Marysville emerged as a favorite.
TechCo provided Dayspring with a quote of $69,737 for the installation of a new wireless nurse call system. There’s no additional monthly fee associated, Swank said.
TechCo plans to integrate as much of Dayspring’s existing equipment as possible during the upgrade, so the final cost could end up being slightly lower than quoted, the executive director said.
“We will pay for all of these items, if you (commissioners) give the go ahead, with our cash carryover,” she said. “These systems are so important to Dayspring.”
Commissioners approved on Thursday the quote from TechCo, not to exceed $69,737.
Commissioner Cliff Mears said the upgrade sounds like a good improvement at a reasonable price.
Telephone system also in need of overhaul
Dayspring’s current phone system was installed in 2012 by CenturyLink.
Swank said the facility now owns the physical handsets and if one were to break, it would be nearly impossible to find a replacement. That along with dated software has led Dayspring to search for a new system.
There are currently five phone lines available to make calls in-and-out of Dayspring, along with four analog lines for the elevator, fax and two dedicated to the facility’s fire system.
“If I’m on the phone, a nurse is on the phone and my director of nursing is on the phone, I only have two other lines for incoming calls,” Swank said. “If there are residents on the phone, then you cannot get into Dayspring.”
Armstrong, a telephone company with four locations in Ohio, including Ashland, has proposed an increase to 21 digital phone lines.
The cost to Dayspring includes a system activation fee of around $700 and about a $300 increase in its monthly payment — which when included with internet costs, also provided by Armstrong, would bring it to about $700 per month.
“The amount of phone lines I’m getting is more than well worth it to us,” Swank said. “I need to fix this phone system before it dies.”
Commissioners could not take any action Thursday regarding the proposed contract with Armstrong pending further review with County administrator Andrew Keller.