WA’s East Metropolitan Health begins rollout of wearable tech for remote ED patient monitoring

Wearable devices are being deployed across emergency departments in East Metropolitan Health, beginning with implementation at Armadale Hospital.

The technology rollout is being introduced as part of the Health in a Virtual Environment service. It is being formally introduced first at Armadale Hospital following trials at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) and Bentley Hospital.

The ED waiting room at Armadale has been outfitted with three devices: an armband, blood pressure cuff and oximeter, for the continuous monitoring of vital parameters, such as heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, oxygen saturation levels and skin temperature. 

RPH will also go live with the wearable devices in their ED next month, October.

WHY IT MATTERS

Data from the monitoring devices are being streamed live to the HIVE and ED teams so they can closely monitor signs of deterioration among patients.

“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,” added Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.

“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,” she further explained.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Western Australia first introduced the A$22 million ($15 million) HIVE service at EMH in December 2020 to proactively detect patient deterioration. At the heart of the service is Royal Philips’ Clinical Command Centre which leverages monitoring, machine learning, and advanced analytics to reduce mortality, complications and length of stay. In its first year, the HIVE targeted to monitor 50 beds across 11 wards at RPH and Armadale.