Automated Electronic Monitor Increases Survival Rates

Using an automated electronic monitor to acquire vital signs and calculate early warning scores can help save lives, according to a new study.

Researchers at Austin Hospital (Melbourne, VIC, Australia), Karolinska University Hospital (Stockholm, Sweden), and other institutions in the United States, Europe, and Australia conducted a study involving a cohort of 18,305 patients assigned electronic automated advisory vital signs monitors to assist in the acquisition and calculation of early warning scores. The researchers assessed their effect on frequency, type, and treatment of rapid response team (RRT) calls; survival to hospital discharge or to 90 days for RRT call patients; and overall type and number of serious adverse events and length of hospital stay.


The results showed that the survival rate increased by 6.3% among patients who received RRT calls; among these patients, intervention was associated with an increased proportion of calls secondary to abnormal respiratory vital signs, from 21% to 31%. The average length of stay decreased by 3% in the United States hospitals included in the study. The time required to measure and record a set of vital signs decreased from 4.1 minutes to 2.5 minutes, adding 1.7 nursing hours per day that allowed nurses to focus energies on other aspects of patient care. The study was published in the August 2012 issue of the Journal of Critical Care Medicine.

“Early identification of deteriorating patients through vital signs monitoring and analysis carries no conceivable risk but has a significant upside,” said lead author Rinaldo Bellomo, MD, PhD, director of intensive care research at Austin Hospital. “Clinical advisories point out potential problems before they have a chance to develop, helping to shorten hospital stays. Early intervention can be the difference in improving patient outcomes, and goes a long way toward saving hospitals money.”

For the study, the researchers used the Royal Philips Electronics (Amsterdam, The Netherlands) IntelliVue MP5SC vital signs monitor, which is equipped with the integrated and automated IntelliVue Guardian early warning system (EWS) clinical decision support tool.

Related Links:
Austin Hospital
Karolinska University Hospital
Royal Philips Electronics