Optimizing time and seeking efficiency are constant challenges in an intensive care unit. To deal with this, the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) chose to implement Patient Connect, a 100% software technology that continuously feeds biomedical device-produced data to the patient’s health record, without any human intervention.
Patient Connect’s technology eliminates the manual entry of vital signs by caregivers and reduces the use of paper while improving the quality of care provided. In fact, this interoperability solution designed for biomedical devices prevents nurses from having to manually transcribe the data produced by the machines.
The MHI project occurred over 2 phases. The first phase covered a fleet of 30 ventilators in 2019 and the second phase addressed 189 infusion pumps/syringe pumps in 2020.
“Traditionally, the MHI has been an establishment at the forefront of health innovation. It has a worldwide reputation. We were very excited about the idea of implementing Patient Connect technology in this establishment and supporting local teams in their digital transformation projects.” Anne-Sophie Lauer, Integration Manager, Purkinje.
As in most projects of this kind, the first challenge involved mobilizing all the departments and teams required to deliver this project. At the clinical level, respiratory therapists and intensive care nurses were the most involved, while at the technological level, the IT department and the biomedical engineering team provided project management. Developing the interfaces mobilized both clinicians and the suppliers’ technical teams.
Implementing the new process and managing the transition from paper to electronic mode were the other major challenges encountered in the project. To support the establishment, the Purkinje teams developed various paper and electronic training and communication media. It should be noted here that mobilizing the MHI’s clinical teams was really the key to the project’s success.
With Patient Connect, the MHI has a solution to automatically capture the vital data generated by ventilators and volumetric pumps in the intensive care unit. This technical innovation is a real revolution in the daily lives of the establishment’s nurses, who can consult vital information in real time and monitor the progress of their patients’ state of health.
“Thanks to the Patient Connect solution, we can quickly access data from our biomedical devices. This is a significant time saver for patient care, as each caregiver saves two hours a day.” Amélie Brasiola, Head of the MHI Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
It should also be noted that Patient Connect reduces physical contact between the caregiver and the patient when taking vitals, which helps better manage the risk of contamination linked to the COVID-19 pandemic in the MHI’s intensive care units.
We would like to thank the clinical (respiratory therapists and nurses) and technical teams for their enthusiasm and professionalism in carrying out this project. We would particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of Kiet-Van Luong, Senior Advisor in Digital Transition, Amélia Brasiola, Head of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Leïla-El-Fehri, Biomedical Engineer and Anne Nguyen, Coordinator of the “Digital Hospital” project, who worked closely with the Purkinje teams during all stages of delivery.
