Continuous Vigilance Monitoring Technology Benefits Nurses & Patients
Posted on: Tuesday, 31 March 2009, 04:20 CDT
In most hospitals, where there is a shortage of RNs, patients undergo intermittent monitoring with periodic vital signs and observations taken about every four hours. However, if a change is not detected in a timely manner it can have serious consequences. In fact, respiratory rate change is the number one predictor of a patient being at risk for cardio-respiratory complications. That is why hospitals are looking to new technologies to expand their care capabilities.
The 12 month long study was conducted at three U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) hospitals utilizing the LifeBed Patient Vigilance System(TM). The system is comprised of a mattress coverlet embedded with sensors that measure heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and provides a bed exit alert for fall prevention. The sensors passively acquire signals from the patient, so the patient is not tethered to the device. The sensor signals are continuously relayed to a computer display unit that processes the data. If the patient's HR or RR fluctuates outside normal limits, or the patient leaves the bed, the system immediately sounds an alert through the hospital's nurse call system.
The study looked at the impact of the system on a nurse's workflow and found the system resulted in an increase in patient-centric RN care with a decrease in the RN's administrative and housekeeping activities. "That work shifted to others within the hospital setting, allowing RNs to spend more time with patients who need a higher level of care," said Dr.
In addition to providing early recognition of patient distress, earlier independent research shows that fall rates drop between 40 and 90 percent through continuous vigilance monitoring.
Another benefit identified by the recent study was an improvement in nursing staff satisfaction. "We consistently heard they were more at ease knowing there was additional monitoring," added Sullivan. "It reduces their stress, which can be significant depending upon the number of patients they're caring for."
The study was conducted at James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital -
LifeBed is a product of Hoana Medical, Inc. Founded in 2001, Hoana is a privately held medical device company based in
SOURCE Hoana Medical, Inc.
Source: PR Newswire
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