C.K.Murugan
General Manager – South Region, Mindray Medical India Pvt Ltd
Evolution and Trends in Patient Monitoring - Today the Patient Monitoring Market is shifting from Box Selling to the Complete Solution Selling. While we speak on the Patient Monitors Evolution, in last 5–6 decades, the ECG Monitoring which was considered the Patient Monitor initially grew leaps & bounds like EtCO2 (micro, main and side stream), BIS, AGM, CO, PICCO, ICG, SVo2, Scvo2, NMT, EEG, and respiratory mechanics. rSO2 as a single width insertable module and the Product Innovation continues on Patient Monitors.
Today the Advancements in the Patient Monitoring Industry are making strides to address clinician needs. For Quick decision they require complete patient data 24 x7 and it should be accessible on the move whether In (or) Out of Hospital for that matter anywhere in the World. Increased patient load in the Hospitals are being one of the key factors of growth in Patient Monitoring and dictates faster decisions. Technological advancements in Patient Monitoring systems are making it easier & faster to diagnose, decide & treat as appropriate with the help of Clinical Tools - CAA (Clinical Assistive Applications). Taking the lead from the above, let’s discuss on the 3 Topics – Product Innovation / Data Accessibility / Clinical Decision based on Clinical Applications.
Product innovation is one of the key strategies followed by all. Patient Monitors are designed in such a way that it’s promoted by highlighting compactness, weight of the unit, design etc. Multi-purpose utilization such as - Transport monitor with Long Battery hours and option of 2nd battery to enhance it further, Multi-parameter Modular Monitor with Multiple Modules and the latest in the Innovation of Insertable Single Width Modules are rSO2 (Cerebral Oxygen Measurement), ICG (Non Invasive Cardiac Output) and Multi Parameter Module cum Monitor for Seamless Data Continuity & Transport as well. These monitors enters the Hospital from Ambulance & move with the patient throughout the various care areas to provide uninterrupted data acquisition from Patient Monitor to central station to Hospital Information System (HIS) operable through Wi-Fi (or) hardwired communications (or) both combinations.
Telemetry Devices Wi-Fi based Patient Monitoring system are developed along with Basic ECG, Optionally NIBP & SpO2 monitoring allows the Patient to freely walk in the Areas enabled with Wi-Fi within the Hospital. This Telemetry device works as an Independent Patient Monitor on the Network. The device communicates to the central station, so patients are continuously monitored & the Data backup is never compromised too.
Data on the HIS – In the Hospital Internet, is ready to be accessed on the move from various devices like Computers, Laptops etc., & the Innovation had gone to the level of Mobile Phones. The complete Patient Monitoring Data Including the Waveforms & Vitals are Viewed in the Android or Apple Mobiles, which in turn helps Clinicians for a quicker decision remotely. Question rises in the mind? Is it Very Expensive? Comparing the Technological Advancement, Accessibility of Data through your own Mobile Phone on the move and Quick Decision to Save Patient Lives – It is Definitely NOT.
Let’s switch back to In Hospital Environment, where the Clinical Decisions are made based on the developments in the Patient Monitoring in different Care Areas like in Operating Rooms in which Tools to
Balance Anesthesia effectively, in the Neonatal Care Area Oxy-CRG which is an indicator of Breathing Efficiency and Brain Maturity & for the ICU / Post OP newer tools to Identify Sepsis & Management of Sepsis effectively, Early warnings are scored based on the Monitored data on various Patient conditions / deterioration etc., In the Cardiology ICU, CAA like Rescue Mode & CPR Dashboards are developed for Patients undergoing Resuscitation / CPR. These drastically empower clinicians to make more accurate, faster & proactive Clinical Care decisions. The industry is beginning to understand the Present age needs & with the available Huge Patient Data collated through various technologies which goes through Big Data Analytics to get refined & utilized for developing Newer Tools. The Newer Tools in turn facilitates the Clinicians to take a Faster & Accurate decision for Better Outcomes.
"The industry is beginning to understand the Present age needs & with the available Huge Patient Data collated through various technologies which goes through Big Data Analytics to get refined & utilized for developing Newer Tools. The Newer Tools in turn facilitates the Clinicians to take a Faster & Accurate decision for Better Outcomes."
Wayforward - As initially discussed, Patient Monitoring Business is clearly shifting gears from Stand Alone Box Selling to Networked Clinical Information Environment. Enhanced Patient loads are the Trigger points for the Industry to come out with Newer Technologies understanding the Pain points of the Clinicians. Very hopeful that in the coming years there will be exciting developments in the Patient Monitors on Innovative Products, Newer Measurements & with introduction of AI backed with Big Data Analytics, the CAA will take a bigger leap for much faster decisions & better treatment outcomes.
