Hospital Tv Shows: Who Benefits Financially?

Television shows set in hospitals have been a popular genre for decades, with shows like *St. Elsewhere* and *Marcus Welby, MD* paving the way for more recent hits like *Grey's Anatomy* and *Scrubs*. While these shows provide entertainment and drama, they also raise questions about the accuracy of their portrayals and their impact on public perception of the medical field. Hospitals themselves have also entered the television business, with dedicated healthcare TV systems offering patients access to streaming services, educational content, and more. These systems come at a cost for patients, but they provide benefits such as improved patient engagement and enhanced safety features. So, while hospitals may not directly benefit monetarily from TV shows, they do generate revenue from their own television systems and gain indirect advantages from their portrayal in popular culture.

Hospitals charge patients for TV services

Television is an important tool for patients in hospitals, as it helps distract them from their physical and emotional distress. Hospital TVs are also used to provide patients with educational content about their condition and treatment plan. They can also be used to communicate with medical staff and request assistance.

Hospital TVs are not like regular TVs. They are designed to meet the stringent requirements of hospitals and are therefore significantly more expensive. They come with features for added safety, reducing the risk of fire, electrical shock, and hazardous radiation. They also have better aesthetics, save energy, and are safer than regular TVs. They are also designed to save as much space as possible, as hospital rooms tend to be small.

Hospital TVs come with multiple subscriptions to cable TV and streaming services, as well as internet access. These additional services come at a cost, which is why hospitals charge patients for TV access. The charges might be higher if the patient uses streaming services and digital broadcasts, which require an internet connection.

The cost of TV access in hospitals varies depending on the hospital and the package chosen. For example, at Wythenshawe Hospital, television is free from 8 am until noon for channels 1-5 and from 7 am to 7 pm on the children's wards. Outside of these hours, further viewing can be purchased from Hospedia, with a one-day TV & Movies pass costing £9.90 and £7.90 for just television. At other hospitals in the region, a 'TV, Movies and More' pass for seven days costs the same as a standard Sky entertainment package with Movies and Kids bundles, which is more than £40 a month.

TVs improve patient experience and reduce stress

Television has become an integral part of people's lives, with the average person spending 6 hours a day watching television. This number increases to 11 hours when they are in the hospital. In-room TVs in hospitals are designed to protect patients and their safety while reducing risk for the healthcare organisation. They are uniquely designed to meet the special requirements of a hospital setting. For example, they need to save space, have better aesthetics, save energy, and be safer than regular TVs.

Hospital-grade TVs, such as Samsung or LG Healthcare, offer modern entertainment options that patients have come to expect, such as on-demand movies, music, and streaming content. With entertainment that reminds them of the comforts of home, patients can be more relaxed and reduce unwanted stress. Patients can enjoy their favourite programs, watch movies, cheer on sports teams, keep engaged while watching documentaries, listen to music, play interactive games, and much more. This environment can help their hospital rooms feel more like home.

TVs in hospitals also provide a helpful distraction from the physical and emotional distress of being in a hospital setting. They can also bring people together as they enjoy a special program or series as a group. TVs can also be used as a tool for education, where patients can watch videos about their condition and treatment plan on-demand. This empowers them to stay healthy in the long term and ultimately reduces hospital readmission rates.

TVs also benefit the hospital staff. They can be used to collect patient feedback, which is critical to improving future patient experiences. When patients are entertained and engaged, they are less likely to call the nurses' station, reducing call-button fatigue for nurses. This allows nurses to be more available and focused on more critical and challenging situations. TVs can also facilitate telehealth visits for doctors needing to do virtual rounds and nurses monitoring patient care remotely.

TVs can be used as educational tools

Television has long been a source of entertainment, but it can also be a powerful educational tool. Smart TVs, in particular, have opened up new possibilities for learning, especially for children. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, smart TVs provided a solution for parents, offering educational stimulation and a chance for physical activity through fitness apps and online videos.

Smart TVs are a popular choice for classrooms and homes due to their ease of use and accessibility. They offer interactive displays, clear instructions, and intuitive interfaces that make learning more engaging and collaborative. The ability to access offline content through pendrives or pre-installed apps means that smart TVs can be used even in areas with poor internet connectivity.

Educational television programs have been used to raise social awareness and disseminate government policies. For example, the "Sabido Method," pioneered by Mexican TV producer Miguel Sabido, used telenovelas to educate Latin American audiences about family planning and literacy. Similarly, the Hulu Original series "East Los High" promotes healthy sexual behaviors, and children's programs like "Sesame Street" and "Teletubbies" incorporate educational content in an exciting and entertaining way.

In a hospital setting, TVs can also serve as educational tools for patients. Hospital-grade TVs provide customized patient education options, allowing patients and their families to watch videos about their medical conditions, treatment plans, and medications. This empowers patients to take an active role in their health, potentially reducing hospital readmission rates. Additionally, TVs in hospitals can improve patient engagement and communication with medical staff, enhancing the overall patient experience.

While TVs in hospitals primarily serve as a form of entertainment, distracting patients from their physical and emotional distress, they can be easily transformed into educational tools. By connecting TVs to other medical devices, patients can visually interpret and better understand their medical conditions. Hospitals can also convert print materials into videos, and pharmaceutical companies now provide educational videos about medications and treatments.

TVs can be used for digital signage and navigation

Television has become an integral part of our daily lives, and hospitals have leveraged this to improve the patient experience. Hospital-grade TVs such as Samsung or LG Healthcare TVs are designed to meet stringent healthcare requirements and offer various benefits to patients. These TVs provide patients with modern entertainment options, such as on-demand movies, music, and streaming services, which can reduce stress and provide a comforting reminder of home.

Hospital TVs also serve as a versatile tool for patient engagement and education. They allow patients to access educational content about their health conditions and treatment plans, empowering them to take an active role in their health and reduce hospital readmission rates. Additionally, TVs can facilitate real-time video updates and virtual conferencing with medical staff, enhancing communication and reducing the burden on busy nurses and doctors.

Beyond entertainment and education, hospital TVs can be effectively utilized for digital signage and navigation. Digital signage solutions, often combined with mobile apps, improve facility navigation for patients, visitors, and staff. Upon entering the hospital, visitors can interact with touch-screen kiosks that provide a floor plan, department information, cafeteria menus, and upcoming event details. With Bluetooth beacons installed throughout the hospital, patients can use wayfinding apps on their mobile devices to receive turn-by-turn directions to their desired destinations, reducing the risk of delays caused by getting lost.

Hospital TVs can also be used as digital signage displays, providing important healthcare information, medication schedules, and personalized care instructions. They can guide guests to their destinations, reducing anxiety and improving the overall patient experience. Additionally, TVs can be employed to communicate real-time updates, promote health campaigns, and facilitate simple self-check-in processes, further enhancing the efficiency of hospital operations.

Hospitality TVs, such as those offered by LG, take advantage of advanced technology to provide seamless navigation and access to a variety of features. These TVs can be customized to meet the specific needs of patients in long-term care facilities, with functions like Bed1/Bed2/Bed3/Bed4 functionality, eliminating remote control interference in shared rooms. The Pro:Centric platform allows hospitals to tailor the patient room experience, enabling content creation and management of multiple channels. With built-in pillow speaker ports and speakers, these TVs offer convenience and relaxation to patients.

In conclusion, hospital-grade TVs play a crucial role in enhancing the patient experience through entertainment, education, and improved navigation. By utilizing TVs as digital signage and navigation tools, hospitals can improve wayfinding, provide essential healthcare information, and streamline various operational aspects, ultimately contributing to increased patient satisfaction.

TVs can be used for video calls with friends and family

Television in hospitals has become an important source of entertainment and education for patients. While hospitals provide cable TV and streaming services for patients to watch TV shows, sports, and movies, TVs can also be used for video calls with friends and family.

Video calling devices like ONSCREEN allow seniors to receive and make video calls directly from their TVs without needing any additional devices or apps. This makes it easier for older adults to connect with their loved ones, especially their grandchildren, and even medical providers. The large TV screen provides a big picture view, making it easy to see the other person. ONSCREEN also offers a tablet app that transforms standard iPads and Android tablets into caregiving devices, with features like video calls, reminders, companionship, and live classes.

Other video calling options for TVs include Facebook Portal, which supports group chats of up to 50 people on Facebook Messenger, and Amazon Fire TV Cube, which allows video calls to Alexa-enabled devices. For Android TV users, Google Duo can be installed as an app for video chatting. To set up video calling on a TV, users typically need to connect a device to an HDMI port and sign into a relevant account, such as Facebook or WhatsApp.

While TVs in hospitals provide entertainment and education, they can also facilitate social connections and support through video calls with friends and family. This can enhance the patient experience and provide a sense of comfort and companionship during their stay in the hospital.

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