Intra-hospital patient transport can be a complex and sensitive process that requires adherence to high quality and safety standards. Patients must be closely monitored and doctors require real-time information on patients’ vital signs. In addition, the process can be time-consuming and stressful for medical staff.
A portable monitoring device allows nurses to visually monitor patients’ essential medical data during active transport between care areas. The device has docking capability on the transport bed or at the bedside and provides a standardised platform with one device and one software programme to support fleet management.
An additional feature is the parameter concept, which uses the monitor with parameters appropriate to the patient. This means that only one standard device is required and the parameter set can be tailored by connecting the required parameters. Furthermore, this may help to reduce stress experienced by healthcare staff if a correctly configured device is not readily available for use. Different pulse oximetry technologies in different care areas can also be used to provide monitoring and patient care.
Both qualitative and quantitative results from a recent comparative usability study conducted to assess the workflow impact and to evaluate productivity gains during active patient transport using the CARESCAPE ONE device as compared with a patient transport monitor of similar class, showed that it can help improve patient transport safety and staff efficiency. Specifically, the study found that participants using the monitor experienced overall 26% less patient-transport time, and 60% fewer user errors in performing routine transport tasks.
GE Healthcare and Medhold have partnered to launch the CARESCAPE ONE patient transport monitor.