Armadale Hospital has been outfitted with cutting edge wearable technology to improve patient monitoring in the waiting room of the emergency department (ED).
Armadale Hospital’s ED has become the first in Western Australia to adopt the wearable devices as part of the Health in a Virtual Environment (HIVE) service at East Metropolitan Health.
Patients will wear three devices – an armband, blood pressure cuff and oximeter – which allows their heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels and skin temperature to be continuously monitored.
Data from these patient devices in the ED waiting room will be streamed live to the HIVE and ED teams to closely monitor for any signs of deterioration.
This technology is designed to be used alongside processes already in place, such as dedicated waiting room nurses and has previously been successfully trialled at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) and Bentley Hospital.
It will be rolled out to the RPH emergency department next month.
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“This innovative and cutting-edge program will complement 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.
“Well done to all those at the East Metropolitan Health Service who have been involved in the roll-out of this impressive project.”
