A digital system that automatically alerts clinical staff when patients are becoming unwell has been successfully tested as part of plans for a new hospital in Lanarkshire.
The Patientrack digital patient observations platform has seen the number of complete patient observations leap from 31 per cent to 100 per cent at University Hospital Monklands (UHM).
The system, which works in conjunction with Hillrom’s Welch Allyn vital signs monitors, replaced a paper-based system with Monklands one of the first hospitals in Scotland to use the innovative technology.
The trial was spearheaded by the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) as part of its exciting ambition to make the new University Hospital Monklands Scotland’s first digital hospital when it opens around 2028.
The system has now been rolled out across inpatient wards at University Hospital Monklands with a rollout currently underway at University Hospital Hairmyres. University Hospital Wishaw will be next, with some community services eventually included as well.
MRP redesign lead Donna McHenry, who led the pilot study, said: “Patient observations should be conducted every four hours for the majority of patients, but achieving the desired frequency is challenging.
“Compliance with vital signs monitoring and recording has historically been inconsistent. With busy, noisy wards and healthcare professionals working to the limit in terms of capacity, tasks such as data recording can sometimes be pushed down the priority list.
“So the pilot study was carried out in two medical wards and two surgical wards at UHM to see whether a standardised electronic recording system could improve compliance and help deliver safer care. It allows healthcare staff at the bedside to record patients’ vital signs on iPads instead of using paper charts.
“The system records key factors including pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature, level of consciousness and oxygen saturation as well as the frequency of observations and whether the frequency is correct in the context of the ‘early warning’ score system and clinical observation policy that we use.”
David Watson, senior advanced practitioner at UHM, helped Donna analyse the success of the pilot. He said it led to a notable improvement in electronic compliance for a complete set of observations using the NEWS (National Early Warning Score) system, a tool that calculates an overall score from vital signs that are key to identifying, escalating and prioritising patient deterioration.
David explained: “Pre-pilot recording of vital signs was 31 per cent, but this rose to 100 per cent for the four trial wards during the pilot, with 56,000 electronic observations in total.
“The NEWS frequency reliability – showing observations completed on time – was also 31 per cent using the old paper system compared to 74 per cent for the wards using Patientrack.
“We surveyed staff and the majority agreed that ease of use was a strength of the system. The survey also revealed that staff perceived an improvement in patient safety due to the availability of timely and accurate vital signs, which would suggest an increased likelihood of earlier identification of those patients who are deteriorating.”
The system’s greatest strength is the ability to have hospital-wide visibility of all patients and their NEWS score. This is particularly useful during out-of-hours, when staffing numbers are reduced, and also for critical care outreach teams to ensure they are aware of potential deteriorating patients who may need their support.
University Hospital Monklands chief of nursing services Karen Goudie, who’s a member of the MRP team, said: “Our goal is for the new University Hospital Monklands to be Scotland’s first digital hospital, using systems that allow a more agile response to the challenges the NHS faces. That’s why the current Monklandssite is leading the way in taking forward technological advances, such as Patientrack.”
Related posts
Interviews
Comment
Why innovation and marketing are the perfect partners to make changes that matter
With the rapid evolution of traditional marketing and the appearance of digital marketing, technology and innovation has become part of any marketer’s life without the need of working for a…
Transitioning to a four-day week – CEO’s vow to strike a healthier balance in the workplace
I came to Scotland nearly 20 years ago from Ireland, with no contacts but a lot of determination. While Ireland will always be my home, Scotland has given me amazing…
Women Lead: The female-led company championing intuitive working
Over the last two years, the pandemic forced a shift to more remote and flexible working practices. Whilst we might be seeing a “return to normal”, some companies are choosing…
Women Lead: My passion for young people to consider a career in digital
Twenty years ago, I stumbled across my career in digital marketing almost by accident. It was during my honours degree in marketing at Glasgow Caledonian University. I was on work…
Women Lead: Inclusive Silicon Valley cohort gives hope to entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds
Things are happening on the Scottish tech scene. Big and small initiatives are creating a fantastic ripple effect on the sector, bottom up and top down, thanks to the recommendations…
Women Lead: The story of an entrepreneurial scientist
I first arrived in Scotland over 20 years ago. I had £75 in my wallet and a scholarship offer to do a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. Sometimes I…
Please mind the gap… or healthcare may fall
Imagine sharing a lengthy train journey with others. From beginning to end, imagine how often you might hear ‘mind the gap’ messages about embarking and disembarking safely. Picture how navigating…
Women Lead: My journey from Dragons’ Den to Silicon Valley
Following her appearance on Dragons’ Den, Sheila Hogan, serial entrepreneur, founder and chief executive of digital legacy vault, Biscuit Tin, shares her experience of her time in the Den and…