'Smart' Technology to Improve Efficiency, Patient Outcomes at Beaufort Memorial

Beaufort Memorial is embracing cutting-edge healthcare technology to enhance patient care and operational efficiency, evolving into what’s known as a “smart” hospital system.

A smart hospital integrates advanced technologies and automated processes to improve patient outcomes and streamline healthcare delivery. Beaufort Memorial’s commitment to innovation is driving the development of this high-tech infrastructure, setting the stage for a more connected, responsive and efficient healthcare experience for patients across the Lowcountry.

“Innovation is one of Beaufort Memorial’s core values, and implementing smart technology to further enhance the way we deliver high-quality care is an example of that commitment,” said Russell Baxley, Beaufort Memorial President and CEO. “We’ve grown alongside this community as a trusted healthcare provider, and these new technologies will strengthen our ability to deliver the exceptional care our patients deserve.”

Smart hospital features are being integrated not only at Beaufort Memorial Hospital but also throughout its network of medical practices. The health system is deploying advanced tools to streamline administrative functions such as admissions and discharge, expand access to specialized services like neurological care, and boost safety and communication with real-time location systems.

As Beaufort Memorial continues to invest in smart hospital innovations, it reinforces its role as a leader in healthcare transformation, both for today and for the future of the communities it serves.

Virtual Inpatient Services

The Duke Endowment awarded the Beaufort Memorial Foundation $485,000 at the end of 2024 to support the associated costs of a two year “virtual nursing” pilot program. These nurses do not act as replacements for bedside nurses at the hospital, but rather as support to the in-person nursing staff. These remote nurses will communicate with patients via a secure video call right from their room.

Remote nurses will be located in the Beaufort Memorial Medical and Administrative Center (BMAC), across the street from the Beaufort hospital. These nurses will complete necessary – and often time consuming – administrative tasks related to admissions, transfers and discharges, allowing for a smoother workflow in the admission process and swifter patient discharge.

“With the additional support of virtual nurses, the nursing staff on the floor can focus their attention more on direct patient care, which positively impacts both efficiency and overall patient satisfaction,” said Karen Carroll, Beaufort Memorial Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer. “This grant allows Beaufort Memorial to continue with its mission of providing high-quality, innovative, patient-first care while supporting the needs of the workforce.”

Tele-Neurology at Beaufort Memorial

For hospital patients whose care requires them to be seen by a neurologist, Beaufort Memorial is now offering virtual neurology care, connecting these patients with top neurology specialists at MUSC Health.

Similar to Beaufort Memorial’s tele-stroke care model, patients are connected to these MUSC specialists via a secure video call from a mobile cart in their hospital room. Receiving this care virtually is quicker and more efficient for patients than being transferred to a separate facility, and the implementation of both remote specialists and onsite caregivers allows for a comprehensive care model allowing for an optimized patient outcome.

Hospital-Wide Real-Time Location Systems

Beaufort Memorial is implementing Midmark Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) at the main hospital, an advanced technological infrastructure that allows for clearer communication, improved patient flow and enhanced safety measures for patients and staff.

This RTLS system will allow Beaufort Memorial to enable asset location and management, keeping electronic record of the location of critical medical equipment, as well as improve communication lines and efficiency when it comes to rounding on patients and reducing wait times.

Each patient room will be equipped with a proximity sensor that is a part of the nurse call system. Each member of the nursing staff will have an attachment to their badge that is uniquely assigned to them and will identify them to the proximity sensors as they round on patients.

The proximity sensors will allow the screens in each patient’s room to display the name of the staff member entering, allowing for easy identification by patients and visitors. The system will also aid in documenting the actions of nursing staff in the hospital’s medical record, improving accuracy and thoroughness, which will help ensure that treatments and interventions happen at the prescribed time.

Enhanced safety is also a factor – with RTLS, staff will be able to use mobile panic buttons in case of a crisis. With location identifying technology, assistance can arrive more swiftly, further prioritizing overall staff and patient safety automatically.

Committed to Innovation

Beaufort Memorial is no stranger to innovative methods or models of delivering care. The community hospital system was the first in the area to offer video visits with its “BMH Care Anywhere” app, which connects patients with a board-certified provider for a telehealth visit.

When it comes to specialty care and surgery, Beaufort Memorial is leading the way in cutting-edge robot-assisted surgical technology. The Beaufort Memorial orthopedics program uses Mako and Velys robots to assist board-certified, fellowship-trained surgeons during knee and hip replacement surgeries, ensuring the highest level of accuracy possible and shorter recovery times.

Another robot in use at Beaufort Memorial is the da Vinci system, which is used to perform gynecological procedures like hysterectomies, colon resection and other gastrointestinal surgeries. Enabled with a small camera, the system allows surgeons to make very small incisions, preventing damage to healthy tissues and leading to quicker recovery and less pain, blood loss and scarring.

Further demonstrating a commitment to innovative care models, Beaufort Memorial is establishing a unique combination urgent care and emergency room facility on Hilton Head Island in partnership with MUSC Health. This facility is one of the first of its kind in the state, combining the capabilities of an emergency room and convenience of an urgent care with the pricing based on the level of care necessary. Every year, 30% of ER visits can be treated in an urgent care setting. At this facility, every patient will be seen by a physician trained in emergency medicine, and if it’s determined that the patient doesn’t need emergency-level care, they then are treated with urgent care services and walk out with a bill to match, saving them hundreds of dollars.

This model for delivering convenient, cost-effective care for patients, in addition to the use of technological systems to enhance efficiency, safety, communication and overall patient experience and outcomes is another way Beaufort Memorial is offering “smart” solutions to the healthcare needs of the Lowcountry.