Richland County approves DaySpring nurse-call system; telephone contract sent back for review

The Richland County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 20 approved a quote for a wireless nurse-call system for DaySpring and agreed that DaySpring will use its cash carryover to pay for the installation, while deferring approval of a separate telephone-line contract for further county staff review.

The vote came after DaySpring representatives described repeated false alarms from the existing nurse-call system and the difficulty of maintaining the facility's decade-old phone system. "Our current phone system was in place, 2012 by CenturyLink," Michelle, a DaySpring representative, told the board, saying replacement handsets are hard to find and that software for the system is stored on an obsolete thumb drive.

DaySpring requested two upgrades: (1) replacement of the facility's core telephone lines and handsets and (2) a new wireless nurse-call system. The board approved a motion authorizing TechCo to install a complete wireless nurse-call system, approving the vendor quote "not to exceed" $69,737. Commissioners voted to approve that quote during the meeting; the motion was moved and seconded and recorded as approved by the commissioners present.

DaySpring also presented an Armstrong proposal for replacement of its incoming phone lines to add digital capacity alongside required analog lines for fire and elevator systems. DaySpring said the Armstrong proposal would add 21 digital lines plus four dedicated analog lines and that the facility's monthly phone bill would rise by about $300. County staff told the board they received the Armstrong contract only the previous day and needed more time for review; the commissioners did not approve the Armstrong contract and asked staff (Andrew and Michelle) to continue review.

Michelle told the board that DaySpring would cover the nurse-call installation cost from its own carryover funds; the board clarified that DaySpring's carryover payment means the facility would pay the cost directly rather than the county general fund.

DaySpring representatives said installers for the nurse-call system were expected to be on site quickly; one vendor contact had visited similar county homes and was prepared to work with DaySpring's existing hallway repeaters and radios.

Minutes and packet material indicate the TechCo quote specified no monthly fee for the nurse-call system. Several dollar figures were presented orally and in the vendor quote; the activation cost and some line-item amounts for the Armstrong telephone proposal were unclear on the record and are recorded here as presented by DaySpring staff and the vendor documents submitted to the board.

The board recessed the item after approving the TechCo quote and directed staff to return with a reviewed Armstrong contract when available.