Combined Surveillance System Monitors Hospitalized Patients

An integrated clinical surveillance system (CSS) designed for medical and surgical floors addresses unmet patient monitoring needs.

The Connex CSS integrates various technologies to expand the capabilities of traditional intermittent vital-sign systems, providing more effective tools for clinical staff to monitor and identify early warning signs of potential patient deterioration outside of the intensive care unit (ICU). The system is designed to electronically capture and document vitals from the bedside directly to the electronic medical record (EMR), alerting clinicians to significant adverse events, including respiratory failure, falls, hospital acquired pressure ulcers, and cardiopulmonary arrests.

In addition to traditional automated measurements such as pulse rate, blood pressure, temperature and pulse oximetry, the CCS also offers acoustic respiration measurement from Masimo (Irvine, CA, USA), end-tidal carbon dioxide (CO2) technology from Covidien (Dublin, Ireland), and contact-free motion, heart rate, and respiratory rate monitoring from EarlySense (Waltham, MA, USA).

The Connex CSS system, a product of Welch Allyn (Skaneateles Falls, NY, USA) also includes a central station for remote viewing of patient status and alarm notification capabilities to deliver critical patient alarms. The solution also leverages Welch Allyn's EMR partnerships to facilitate connectivity and increase access to accurate patient information. In conjunction with the launch of the Connex CSS, the company has also introduced the Connex Service Dashboard, which provides easy access to equipment status and aids smooth management of technology.

“As hospitals struggle to remain competitive in the new healthcare system, they'll need every advantage to provide better patient care at a lower cost,” said Doug Linquest, senior vice president of the vital signs business unit at Welch Allyn. “The pressure on clinicians will only escalate as new healthcare rules make the need to quickly identify changes in patient health even more important. Our new solution can help clinicians anticipate the worsening of an existing condition or the appearance of a new one.”

“Postsurgical patients receiving pain medication, or suffering from comorbidities such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and obstructive sleep apnea can present a higher risk for respiratory deterioration and life-threatening events,” said Kimberlie Bovard, MSN, RN, of the Meadville Medical Center (PA, USA). “We needed a solution that would be easy to deploy on med/surg floors, in addition to our existing vital signs interfaces for Meditech, and complement our nursing staff workflows and skill sets.”

The majority of patients in an acute care hospital are cared for in the medical and surgical units, spanning a wide range of age, complexity, acuity, and disease state. Currently, clinicians in these units must manage the admission, discharge, and care of many complex patients throughout a typical workday, at a far lower nurse-to-patient ratio than in higher acuity environments.

Related Links:
Welch Allyn
Masimo
Covidien