Getting started with Wello
After deciding to take a step towards creating a healthier workplace with the welloStationX, it’s time to implement the automated devices to replace handheld temperature screenings and self-screenings. The welloStationX is the only self-serve, no-touch temperature clinical thermometer cleared by the FDA—and in addition to touchless temperature scanning, the welloStationX can also perform a health assessment through a mobile device with QR code or on-screen questionnaire, alert appropriate team members when a potential issue is detected, and streamline visitor check-in systems with helpful tools such as color-coded wellness badges.
As streamlined as the welloStationX can make entry points into a medical facility, it will still require adequate education before implementation. We recommend a three-phase approach when first introducing the welloStationX into your facility.
Preparation phase
The Wello team will help you decide on the best set-up for your facility prior to acquiring the system, as part of onboarding, and it’s also helpful to devise an individualized approach to introduce the welloStationX to your patient and visitor population.
Here are some recommended steps for preparing your facility’s patients and visitors:
Announce the device and communicate the why
Your facility’s visitors will understandably have questions about why the facility has chosen to implement the welloStationX, its benefits, and how it will work. You can communicate how the station works and the “why” behind the wello—explaining both the benefits to the individual visitor, along with the facility-wide benefits, as well as explanatory steps—through several methods:
- Email campaigns
- Social media awareness campaign
- Posted visuals around the hospital
- “Open house” to introduce the welloStationX
- Point of contact for community members to get questions answered
Ideally, communicating the why of the wello—which includes everything from an emphasis on health and safety to protect both patients and visitors, streamlining entry points, and self-serve, touchless health screening—will be carried out through multiple streams, in order to reach as many community members as possible.
Place an emphasis on privacy
In preparing your education strategy, a special emphasis on the wello’s focus on privacy in health data should be considered. The welloStationX is designed to protect private health data at all points, from screening to alerts to storage, and the software and station’s privacy features should be highlighted. It’s important to note for visitors and patients, no personal data will be stored. Temperature logs will be recorded associated with a time and photo, but they are then deleted after a certain amount of time.
Depending on your facility’s guidelines, your education strategy may also emphasize that the welloStationX helps protect patients and visitors, regardless of vaccination status and is not pathogen-specific. In other words, it can be used to help prevent all types of illnesses that may be encountered at the hospital and cause hospital-associated infections (HAIs).
Be clear about the next steps
Your prep campaign should include a clear implementation strategy that outlines when the welloStationX will be implemented, where it will be located, and who visitors can contact if there are any issues upon check-in.
Implementation
The first day you implement the welloStationX can be an exciting one—and a challenging one. Here are some tips for making launch day a success:
Go slow
Change can not and should not happen overnight and implementing a solution like the wellostationX can take some time before it becomes second-nature to patients and visitors. Going slow with the process can help make a smoother transition for everyone.
Be present
It’s extremely important to have an active presence by executive leadership team members upon implementation of the station. Not only will team leaders be able to help streamline the process, problem-solve as needed, and demonstrate confidence by using the welloStationX, but their presence will help boost overall morale throughout the process.
Expect growing pains
Even with adequate preparation, appropriate education campaigns, and an active and involved presence, some amount of “growing pains” can be expected with implementing any solution. Being aware that growing pains are normal and even in some situations, necessary for change, can help leaders guide facility visitors through the transition more appropriately.
Post-launch phase
Once the welloStationX has been implemented in your facility, the launch phase isn’t exactly over. A good launch strategy will include incorporating follow-up, assessment, and ongoing support for all users to ensure compliance, understanding, and proper usage.
Some recommended steps in the post-launch phase could include:
Visitor and patient assessment
Make a point to gather the community’s assessments and opinions of the welloStationX, including what feedback they have to offer and any pain points they need addressed. Consider scheduling regular meetings with team leaders and managers to gather any feedback they are hearing as well as opening up some open communication channels for patients and visitors to express their thoughts. For instance, emails, a community meeting, or a virtual webinar could all be utilized.
Have a clear contact point
Part of the beauty of self-serve health screening is that the welloStationX does not require personnel presence—however, it may still be necessary to have a clearly accessible designated point person that visitors can speak with should they require additional assistance, especially in the early days of implementation.
We hope that the welloStationX will benefit your hospital and that these steps will guide you in making the transition to self-serve health screening for both patients and visitors.
Infection mitigation strategies will continue to be an important focus moving forward for all healthcare facilities and the welloStationX can help make that focus a more seamless and efficient one.
