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A pilot program at one of the province’s busiest emergency departments is improving patient care one heartbeat at a time. The wearables project at Dartmouth General Hospital is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing patient care during emergency department waits.
WATCH VIDEO: This wearable device could help patients waiting in Dartmouth General ER (CBC)
Patients experiencing a range of symptoms like chest pain, abnormal lab results or difficulty breathing are given a portable pulse oximeter. This device attaches to their finger and wrist, then wirelessly connects to a monitor that tracks vital signs, including pulse rate and oxygen levels.
By continuously monitoring patients, the system can detect heart rate abnormalities or other critical events. If a patient has been on the monitor for several hours, any irregularities can be reviewed retrospectively.
The idea to pilot wearable monitors emerged as a natural progression following the successful implementation of the waiting room care provider role in 2022. The team secured a River Philip Innovation Grant through the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation, which covered the cost of the pilot; the equipment vendor, recognizing the project’s potential, graciously provided the necessary hardware at no charge.
Implementing the wearables wasn’t without its learning curves. Choosing the right product required thoughtful consideration, but with the Innovation Hub’s guidance, the site and ED team rallied. A Quality Improvement approach allowed for rapid cycles of testing and refinement.
Putting Nova Scotia Health on the Map
The results have been nothing short of remarkable. Staff and patients alike are singing the wearables’ praises, with 100 percent satisfaction to date.
“This project is putting Nova Scotia Health on the map as a hub of innovation, committed to delivering high-quality care,” said Rachel Nalepa, Clinical Project Liaison at Dartmouth General Hospital. “We are thrilled at the success of the pilot, the impact it has had on patients and families and the potential patient safety events that have been avoided.”
The wearables are more than just heart rate monitors. Nalepa said the team has captured multiple critical events, from cardiac rhythm changes to fluctuations in respiratory status. Armed with this data, the clinical team can prioritize care effectively, ensuring patients see the right provider at the right time.
“The wearables catch events that might otherwise slip through the cracks, preventing potentially dire outcomes,” said Nalepa. “The data the wearable provides means patients are accessing the care they need in a more appropriate and efficient way. Constant re-prioritization of which patient is seen next puts the patient in the right place, the first time.”
Buoyed by this success, the team has applied for permanent funding for the wearables program and is hoping to expand the wearables to other areas of the department. Emergency departments throughout Nova Scotia Health and beyond are keen to learn more about this game-changing approach, including two hospitals in the UK. The wearables pilot project recently won the “People’s Choice” award at the 2024 Quality Improvement Summit for Nova Scotia Health’s Central Zone.
Nova Scotia Health is not only on the map; it is revolutionizing emergency care, improving patient outcomes and ultimately saving lives.
Photo of a wearable Monitor, credit to CBC Nova Scotia