Location: University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
September 2020, the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust embarked on a patient monitoring standardisation project with Mindray. As part of the project, the Trust wanted to futureproof its systems through the M-Connect total connectivity solution, particularly the MobileViewer and CMS Viewer systems. The Trust was looking for a solution which allowed caregivers to see live monitor data away from the traditional nurse’s station.
Challenges
- Implementing mobile technology to multiple devices
- Changing dedicated local networks to accept new infrastructure
- Setting up user access to restrict departments view to only their patients
A new take on central monitoring
By combining MobileViewer for their iPads with the CMS Viewer application for their PCs, the Trust has, in a range of acuity settings, created an extremely flexible monitoring system. In rooms where all monitors can be heard but not always seen due to screening or room design, having iPads that can display bedside monitoring allows for total visibility and peace of mind. This level of surveillance is further boosted in some departments with the inclusion of central monitoring stations to give caregivers complete flexibility when observing patients at any point in their workflow. Used initially in Royal Derby Hospital’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU) to provide complete visibility of patient data where each patient has their own room, MobileViewer is now used in several departments – each with access to only the patients in their own department.
The solution
- CMS Server: The CMS Server collects all data from connected bedside monitors and distributes it to the CMS Viewer and Mobile Viewer systems.
- Customisable interface: CMS Viewer can be customised and colour-coded to the user’s preference.
- Alarm visbility: Caregivers watching their patients on Mobile Viewer can see medium and high priority alarms.
- Monitoring: Mobile Viewer and CMS Viewer display all monitoring information from connected monitors.
- Reporting: CMS Viewer allows users at any connected PC to view events and produce reports, including case reports and 12-lead ECG readings.
- Security: On Mobile Viewer, departments have secure logins to view only their own patients.
Outcomes
- Complete visibility: Caregivers using CMS and Mobile Viewer can see patient monitoring data from across the hospital whilst on the move, especially useful in environments with single patient rooms.
- Improved patient experience: Instead of walking between beds and a central monitoring system – caregivers using Mobile Viewer can spend more time observing or speaking with patients at the bedside.
- A flexible system: By choosing mobile and application-based solutions, the solution is in the hands of caregivers and can be used by flexibly regardless of location within the hospital.
- Data Privacy: By working with Mindray to establish private accounts for each department, patient’s data privacy is protected.
- Patient Safety: With live data and event reviews more accessible than ever, changes in patient status are more visible, supporting faster, more informed responses for a safer patient environment.
- Scalable value: The virtual solutions maximise the Trust’s investment due to easy scalability and low dependence on physical infrastructure.
Conclusion
By largely ‘de-centralising’ central monitoring in certain departments, the Trust has made patient monitoring data more accessible than ever for its caregivers. The increase in surveillance capabilities offers greater peace of mind for patients and caregivers alike, freeing up more time for more in-person care.
The Trust already has plans to expand the system to more departments and include clinical engineering for faster diagnosis of technical issues. Further expansion is made simple by the virtual solutions offered as part of the M-Connect system. With the CMS server collecting all patient monitor information, the Trust can choose to distribute that information in more flexible ways when not tied to physical workstations. In future consultants may be able to print reports and view patient data from home through the Trust’s VPN and Mindray’s CMS Viewer, while Mobile Viewer can currently support up to 500 mobile devices fusing data from 600 beds allowing for plenty of expansion.
By supporting an increase in patient safety without compromising the integrity of patient data, Mindray and UDHB have created a scalable system that can safely futureproof the patient monitoring in Royal Derby and Burton hospitals.
