Medline Industries Inc. has introduced the SIM® (Smart Incontinence Management), a way to assess and managed the continence needs of residents in long-term care facilities.
SIM is designed to help residents in America’s skilled nursing facilities with incontinence, of which there are about 750,000. It captures information through a technologically advanced sensor inserted in a specially designed continence liner.
The sensor is connected to a Wi-Fi network, which remotely monitors the voiding patterns of the resident over a 72-hour assessment period. SIM also electronically captures notes and additional observations from the caregivers on a computer tablet, which is part of the care plan.
“The SIM technology replaces the old manual assessment process with an automated system that gives us a more accurate measurement of the resident’s continence episodes,” said Kari Lazzarotto, RN, restorative/MDS coordinator at Mendota Lutheran Home in Mendota, IL.
The goal is for the resident to receive the proper continence products. In one study, SIM helped reduce labor costs and saved money because staff could better select a continence product, the company said.
