The Department of Health has outfitted Armadale Hospital with cutting edge wearable technology aimed at improving the monitoring of patients in the waiting room of the emergency department (ED).
The initiative is part of East Metropolitan Health’s Health in a Virtual Environment (HIVE) service.
When outfitted, patients will wear three devices:- an armband, blood pressure cuff and oximeter – which allow their heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels and skin temperature to be continuously monitored.
Data from the patient devices in the ED waiting room can be streamed live to the HIVE and ED teams to closely monitor for any signs of deterioration.
According to the Minister for Health, Amber-Jade Sanderson, this technology is designed to be used alongside processes already in place such as dedicated waiting room nurses, and has previously been successfully trialed at Royal Perth Hospital and Bentley Hospital.
It will be rolled out to the Royal Perth Hospital emergency department next month.
Ms Sanderson said the innovative program would complement the use of existing monitoring of patients in the ED and essentially give Armadale Hospital staff a second set of eyes on their patients.
“The wearable technology will instantly alert staff to any decline in the patient’s wellbeing and has been shown in pilot studies to increase patient and carer peace of mind,” Ms Sanderson said.
“Well done to all those at the East Metropolitan Health Service who have been involved in the roll-out of this impressive project,” she said.
