Automatic Supervision System Enables Better Patient Outcomes

An innovative contact-free, continuous supervision technology turns the hospital bed into a patient monitor, advancing proactive supervision in the hospital environment.

The EverOn heart and respiration monitor is comprised of a single plate sensing unit equipped with mechanical sensors, and a control unit that integrates signal intake and sampling, signal processing and display, and is capable of various alert outputs. Placed beneath a bed mattress, the sensing unit immediately self-activates whenever the patient is in his bed. Data are continuously filtered, sampled, and analyzed; if desired, the data can be stored and presented later on for offline clinician analysis. The monitor also features a real time connection to a hospital call system and when needed triggers an audible alarm enabling a quick response that may potentially avert medical crises before they materialize. The EverOn monitor is a product of EarlySense (Ramat Gan, Israel), and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

"Approximately 80% of patients in the general wards of hospitals are left unattended between rounds, especially at night when the hospital is short staffed. This situation increases the risk of potential safety events and crises for those hospitalized,” said Avner Halperin, CEO of EarlySense. "Continuous supervision of vital signs has the potential to reduce such risks and improve the overall quality of care. The EverOn system is the next natural step in the ongoing efforts of hospitals to improve patient safety and quality of care.”

In a study to evaluate the accuracy of the EverOn system in comparison to standard intensive care unit (ICU) methods, the EverOn's contact-free sensor was placed under the mattresses of more than 40 patient beds. Patients were simultaneously monitored by the ICU's standard of care monitors: electrocardiogram (ECG for) heart rate, and end tidal CO2 and impedance to measure respiration rate. The study showed that when compared to the gold standard, the EverOn measured heart rates accurately over 92% of the time, and respiration rates over 82% of the time. Moreover, EverOn's accuracy in measuring respiration rate was higher than that of the standard monitor measurement, utilizing the thoracic impedance method with standard ECG leads. The study was presented at the European Respiratory Society Conference, held during November 2008 in Berlin (Germany).

Related Links:
EarlySense