TV Access in Hospitals: A Hidden Cost Explained
The average person spends 6 hours a day watching television, and that number increases to 11 hours when they’re in the hospital. Meaning around 70% of a patient’s waking hours are spent watching television. In today’s healthcare environment, in-room entertainment also plays a role in overall patient experience and satisfaction, which hospitals increasingly measure through standardized surveys like HCAHPS. So, why should hospitals charge them for such an important tool?
Patients have to pay for TV in the hospital because it offers multiple channels and additional patient-focused services—all of which are quite expensive. Hospital TVs aren’t like regular TVs. They’re uniquely designed to meet special requirements for a hospital setting. In this article we’ll explore the costs of hospital TVs and the features that set them apart.
How Much Does Hospital TV Cost?
Hospital TV costs typically range from $5 to $15 per day, depending on the hospital, location, and type of services provided.
Some hospitals include basic television access as part of room and board, while others charge separately for TV access or premium features such as:
- Expanded cable packages
- On-demand programming
- Streaming service access
- Internet or Wi-Fi connectivity required for smart TVs
For longer hospital stays, these daily charges can add up to $50 to $200 or more, especially if premium entertainment or internet services are used. While these costs may seem high compared to home TV services, hospital television systems are fundamentally different from consumer TVs.
Hospital TVs Feature a Special Design
While we all appreciate the crisp pictures from large UHD displays, hospital TVs need to be made with a few specific features.
First, healthcare-grade TVs need to save as much space as possible because hospital rooms aren’t very roomy. They also need to have better aesthetics, save energy and be safer than regular TVs.
As a result, these TVs are significantly more expensive than the set you’d buy to watch at home. They meet safety regulations set by The Joint Commission and the National Electrical Code by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). And they meet strict hospital electrical standards and are sturdier than consumer models.
These TVs could also include features that improve patient satisfaction, like easier volume control, front panel locking control, and multiple inputs for pillow speakers. Additionally, they’re equipped with easy installation features like simple mounting designs and slim profiles to save space.
In many cases, healthcare-grade TVs also include additional safety and durability features such as antimicrobial surfaces, tamper-resistant controls, and specialized power systems designed to meet infection control and patient safety standards – all of which contribute to higher costs.
Hospital TVs Have a Custom User Interface
Healthcare TVs have a custom interface that allows patients to get to their desired service without knowing the ins and outs of the system.
The user interface often has a homepage with some commonly used services in well-organized categories. Some also include a customizable pop-up reminder program to check in with the viewer.
Modern hospital TV interfaces may also integrate patient education content, hospital messaging, and reminders, turning the television into a centralized patient engagement tool.
Patients Can Use Streaming Services on Hospital TVs
One of the main reasons you want a TV (even in a hospital) is to watch TV shows. Modern hospital TVs have the option of both cable TV and streaming services.
While cable isn’t completely dead yet, most people watch TV shows on streaming services like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. The patient might already have an existing account and simply needs to log in and continue watching their favorite shows. In some hospitals, patients may also use their own devices to stream content over hospital Wi-Fi, while others provide streaming access directly through the in-room TV system.
As a result, patients need to pay for the streaming service and internet connection required to run the services.
Patients Can Use Hospital TVs To Understand Their Medical Conditions
Although TVs are primarily entertainment devices, you can quickly turn them into educational tools for the patients. Connecting the television to other medical devices allows the patient to interpret and understand their medical condition visually. Hospitals can also convert print data into videos and display them on TV.
In addition, pharmaceutical companies are now producing educational videos regarding certain medications or treatments for the patient’s viewing.
With these detailed videos, patients can understand their prescriptions without calling a nurse or doctor. They can also make more informed medical decisions when they’re required to. This type of on-demand education can improve patient engagement while helping reduce non-clinical staff interruptions.
Is It Necessary To Have a TV in the Hospital?
Hospitals are sometimes viewed as gloomy places, and rightly so. Most patients are in physical pain and, often, emotional distress.
What’s worse, patients are mostly alone. They receive visitors for only a couple of hours during the day, and nurses can’t keep them company long enough because they have to tend to other patients. As a result, television comes in handy.
It’s necessary to have a TV in the hospital as it helps entertain patients, distract them, and get their minds off their current pain and discomfort. Watching TV in the hospital may therefore be therapeutic for some patients. Access to familiar entertainment has also been associated with reduced anxiety and improved overall patient satisfaction during hospital stays.
One of the best ways for patients to feel at home in a hospital bed is to catch up with their favorite TV shows or sports activities. Studies show that healthcare TVs enable hospitals to offer patient-centric care. Televisions are, therefore, as necessary to patients as the visits they get from family and friends.
Understanding the Value Behind the Charge
Hospital TVs play a significant role in distracting patients from their physical and emotional distress. But these TVs don’t come cheap, hence why patients have to pay for them. Daily hospital TV fees — which often range between $5 and $15 per day — help cover the cost of specialized equipment, regulatory compliance, licensed content, and ongoing technical support. These charges might be higher if the patient uses streaming services and digital broadcasts, which require an internet connection, as opposed to a broadcast television network.
Having a TV at the hospital is useful because it offers patients safety, a custom user interface, and TV subscriptions. Thanks to hospital TVs, patients can always stream their favorite shows, keeping them company while they’re recovering.
Here at Groove Technology Solutions, we offer a variety of services, including being a DIRECTV authorized hospitality dealer. We provide DIRECTV and other services to different industries, including hospitals. All our packages include 24/7 customer support and expert installation by our technicians. Contact us today for a quote.
