A “pioneering” early warning system has cut cardiac arrests by two thirds in one of the busiest parts of Fife’s acute hospital.
NHS Fife became the first in Scotland to introduce the comprehensive electronic clinical observation and early warning system.
It has gone live with Patientrack at Victoria Hospital, meaning that for the first time medics can monitor the sickest patients across the entire hospital.
This has brought a rapid improvement in the way staff monitor vital signs and respond to deteriorating patients.
Cardiac arrests have fallen by as much as two thirds in one of the busiest hospital areas after only six months.
Dr Gavin Simpson, critical care and anaesthetics consultant, said: “Any clinician can now instantly see the profiles of the sickest patients in the hospital.
“Patientrack has helped us introduce some of the biggest and most immediate changes in clinical practice I have ever seen.”
The technology works by ensuring that crucial observations are not missed and allows nurses to capture vital signs digitally at the bedside.
Patientrack then calculates the patient’s early warning score and automatically calls doctors to intervene if there are signs of deterioration.
Marie Paterson, senior charge nurse on the cardiac care unit and cardiology ward, added it helped keep patients safe and aided staff.
Associate medical director Dr Rob Cargill said: “We are the only hospital in Scotland with the ability to identify in real-time all of our sickest patients and have a meaningful clinical discussion about patient care.
“It is enormously powerful to be able to view a live summary of where the sickest patients in our hospital are so we can respond appropriately.”
Healthcare professionals now believe the technology has significant potential for other hospitals in Scotland.
The technology could support the objectives of the Scottish patient safety programme which aims to reduce hospital mortality, better identify deteriorating patients, reduce cardiac arrests, and target serious conditions like sepsis.
William Edwards, general manager for eHealth, said it was a prime example of eHealth at its best where clinical teams collaborate with technology specialists to deliver better, safer care for patients.
He said: “Healthcare professionals in Fife have taken the lead and worked in partnership with IT teams to respond to real clinical priorities and make technology work for the good of the patients we serve.”
Calling NHS Fife a Scottish pioneer, Donald Kennedy, managing director of Patientrack, said: “This is a fantastic move for better, safer care in Scotland and we look forward to spreading the benefits across the country.”