1. In your opinion, how has the Patient Monitoring landscape evolved over the years? What are some of the advantages of the current technological evolution?
Response: Historically, there have been significant variances in patient monitoring requirements across not only hospital systems, but even within a single hospital’s walls. This can result in significant risk. We wanted to find ways to mitigate this risk and keep hospital support staff and the patient in as safe of an environment as possible. Though it seems simple, engagement and communication are critical to protect not only the patient but also the clinical team and the person monitoring the patient. Our Patient Monitoring solution, which we call Patient Observation, ensures the necessary level of engagement and communication and utilizes technology in several ways:
Ensured engagement of the Patient Monitor 24/7. Our solution utilizes our proprietary TeamLead technology on a locked-down iPad and is used by our patient observation associates to continuously document patient status. This provides clean, detailed patient status reporting, as well as supporting the additional needs of the highest risk of patients. For example, it includes Safe Room Checklists and Food Tray Checklists to document the environment and environmental changes as they occur. We monitor patient status every 15-minutes, and if the system detects a delay, an alert is automatically sent to our leadership team to investigate. This thorough, real-time, reporting allows us to guarantee engagement around the clock.
Enhanced Clinical Communication. Healthcare, especially in these times, can be chaotic. Between heightened patient ratios and continuous shift changes, it is more important than ever that critical information about a patient be communicated efficiently and clearly. Utilizing our technology we’ve been able to create a platform to communicate important information to the clinical team and the next patient observation associate coming on duty to ensure we keep the patient as safe as possible at all times.
Protecting Patient Privacy. Communicating about a patient in front of them or in a semi-private room in front of others can be uncomfortable, especially when situations occur that cause escalation. Our technology allows swift communication to needed personnel without having to verbalize the concerns in front of the patient and others within earshot.