A new hand-held computer system called VitalPAC, which allows staff to input patients’ vital signs electronically from the bedside, has been deployed at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust.
VitalPAC is a software system designed by hospital improvement specialist The Learning Clinic in conjunction with Microsoft and the trust, which records, stores and analyses vital signs data, enabling clinicians to monitor the condition of their patients in real time throughout their hospital stay.
Studies have shown the system to produce three times fewer errors in recording and scoring of vital signs data compared to traditional pen and paper methods.
The Learning Clinic’s managing director, Roger Killen, told E-Health Insider: “In my previous role as co-founder of Dr Foster, I saw huge differences between the hospitals coming out best and worst. The only way to get to the bottom of this was to work with clinical teams to find a solution.”
Killen and his team embarked on a clinical project with Portsmouth, working closely with nurses, doctors and Professor Gary Smith, consultant in critical care and clinical lead for the VitalPAC project, to design a system that would help them pay attention to early warning scores. Trials on the system first began in March 2005.
“What we found was that it would be easier for nurses to be able to record measurements they found and be alerted to early warning scores, rather than just record what they found on paper and rely on judgement calls as to when to take action. VitalPAC not only identifies the sickest patients, it also indicates which patients may be well enough to be discharged or whose condition suggests they no longer need a hospital bed,” Killen told EHI.
Working with Microsoft, data on the early warning scores are loaded onto an SQL database. If readings on the VitalPAC system match the criteria for a high score, an urgent alert is given warning the nurse to call a doctor as the patient is in need of immediate medical attention.
Microsoft’s director of healthcare, John Coulthard, told EHI: “The VitalPAC system working with Microsoft offers added value to the clinical understanding of the early warning scores. Staff can look at the score quickly and make an instant analysis. It offers information exploitation, where all staff on the ward can ensure it is being managed effectively.”
All readings on VitalPAC are sent automatically via a wireless LAN to a central server. This means that the data can be reviewed on the hospital intranet, tablet PCs, or on other PDAs by any clinician anywhere in the hospital.
Killen said: “Often the sudden deterioration in a patient’s condition can be preventable if they are identified in time as being ‘at risk’. It is estimated that over 20,000 in-hospital cardiac arrests and similar numbers of unanticipated intensive care unit admissions may be avoidable annually in the UK with earlier recognition and better treatment.
“VitalPAC changes the way the way the workforce works. As the system is inter-linked with all the systems existing systems, staff can see charts and information from anywhere and take action instantly. The staff like it; it’s so much quicker than chasing paper charts and records.”
Professor Smith commented: “This is an exciting moment for Portsmouth. We believe the VitalPAC system to be a key tool in ensuring improved patient-focused care, enhanced patient safety and greater efficiency in the care of sick patients. ”
The Learning Clinic and Microsoft are now working with Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust to extend the technology to meet the specific needs of hospital doctors and are also talking with other hospitals that are impressed with the system and are keen on introducing it to their trusts.
The system costs around £1m for three years, but The Learning Clinic estimate that it could equally save trusts several million pounds over the next few years.
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Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust