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Turbulent times in The Netherlands. The Slingeland Hospital in Doetinchem started in early February with a test with wireless measurement of patients’ vital sign values.
Based on these values, the risk of deterioration (Early Warning Score) or complications is calculated. After a short break to solve the latest technical challenges, the neurology and vascular surgery departments were ready to restart the trial in early March. But, just then, the COVID-19 pandemic reached the Netherlands. This meant that all non-acute care stopped immediately, including the Sensing Clinic project with Ascom. Until the doctors asked themselves after a few days: can we use this planned continuous monitoring system for our COVID-19 patients?
In no time, the platform was set up for the COVID-19 department. This made it possible to monitor COVID-19 patients who were nursed in isolation continuously. Healthcare providers can get a non-stop view of the respiratory rate and heart rate of patients assigned to them, on their smartphone or via the dashboard in the patient file. Saturation is measured several times per hour.
These values are also monitored 24/7 from a central control room. The assigned carers are informed if the patient shows signs of deterioration. The remote measurement aims to support the healthcare professionals. Deterioration can be signalled earlier with continuous monitoring, so intervention may be possible earlier than with a point measurement.
We were, as it were, thrown in at the deep end. You have to work collaboratively when it comes to safety - that is the highest good. Do we dare to innovate? The need to change just gives the push. We fixed this together.
