Patient monitoring
Life Support Marketing Manager at Mindray UK. “A virtual ward may be operated by the hospital via a central station, located at the hospital site, which allows the monitoring of 30-60 beds in the community. In this model, the hospital team may manage suitable patients at home. Alternatively, a third-party provider may deliver the service.” He pointed out that the backbone to
this strategy is the use of wearable patient monitoring technologies – visibility of key patient parameters allows the hospital or third-party provider to quickly detect any changes in health status and to respond accordingly. This ensures that patients can be safely cared for after leaving the hospital, while they recover, or admitted earlier if they are awaiting treatment and experience a deterioration in their health status.
Wearables to support earlier post-surgery mobilisation To support the NHS in delivering more efficient models of healthcare delivery, Mindray is partnering with the University of Dundee, the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, and Papworth on trials of its mWear wearable patient monitoring technology. In addition to supporting the virtual ward,
wearable technology could have a significant impact on a number of fronts – including post-surgery mobilisation and facilitating faster patient recovery. With a traditional care model, patients who have undergone surgery go on to Recovery, then the Surgical Ward, where they are monitored via a static monitor. The parameters measured usually include BP, SATS, temperature and ECG. However, the use of static monitors requires confinement to a hospital bed, as the technology often involves connecting leads – thereby limiting the freedom of the patient’s movement. Early mobilisation is a crucial component of the enhanced recovery
after surgery (ERAS) pathway, which counteracts the adverse physiological consequences of surgical stress and immobilisation.2
Getting
patients moving reduces the risk of DVT and pressure ulcers, for example. Wearable, wireless technologies help overcome these issues. “Rather than patients being connected to monitors in a hospital bed, wearables allow
patients to have greater mobility. They can get out of bed at an earlier stage, be monitored during exercise, and get fitter and healthier for a quicker recovery. They can then be monitored at home if required,” David commented. “By using the technology, staff can tell whether the patient is walking around, if they have fallen, or whether they are lying down. This technology also allows staff to monitor patients when they get out of bed to visit the bathroom, post- surgery, for example. The more mobile they are the better, but safety is always a priority.” David explained that mWear comprises a smart device that is worn on the wrist like a smart watch (EP30), a mobile ‘ring’ pulse oximeter (allowing patients the freedom to wash their hands and move around), and a mobile heart monitor module (ES30) providing a three- lead ECG, which is transmitted wirelessly back to a central station, where it can be monitored by the care givers. Featuring anti-interference technology and using a patented anti-motion algorithm, this approach allows patients to move without restrictions, while minimising false alarms. The mWear technology is very light in weight (the main unit is just 60g), completely wireless, and waterproof. All of the data monitored and captured by the mWear technology is automatically pushed into the electronic patient record and, as there is no need for patients to disconnect leads in order to move around, the vital signs data is seamless. One of the most important parameters
captured in recovery is respiration rate. Through continuous monitoring, an early indication of changes in the patient status can be detected, allowing rapid intervention by the clinical team. SpO2 levels are also an important indicator of patient health. After coming off a nasal cannula, blood oxygen saturation needs to reach more
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