image: Hamilton Health Sciences virtual nurses pave the way for new opportunities for patient care through a new virtual post-operative care study. Credit Hamilton Health Sciences. view more
Credit: Hamilton Health Sciences
HAMILTON, ON - JUNE 17, 2020 - A team of researchers and health-care providers at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) has launched a major study to remotely manage patients after surgery. Their joint research centre, Population Health Research Institute (PHRI), is testing virtual care and remote monitoring technology.
Nurses run the central command centre and use a tablet computer to virtually interact with patients. They can also connect patients to physicians through virtual linkage. The patients also use simple remote monitoring technology to record their vital signs at home, which are sent instantly to the nurse.
Patients are at highest risk for complications in the first month after surgery, with 15-20 percent returning for emergency treatment or hospitalization. The trial, called 'post-discharge after surgery using virtual care with remote automated monitoring (PVC-RAM)' will evaluate the effect of a virtual care and remote monitoring technology on unplanned hospitalizations and emergency department and acute care visits. It builds on the team's previous research into remote monitoring of vital signs.
"When COVID-19 restrictions came into effect in early March, hospitals were challenged to drastically reduce non-emergency care. Taking vital signs is an important part of care in hospital, so it stands to reason that taking patients' vital signs virtually from home makes a lot of sense, especially in patients who are at high risk for complications," said Dr. P.J. Devereaux, cardiologist at HHS, professor of medicine at McMaster, senior scientist at PHRI, and co-principal investigator of the trial.
"If we can reduce the numbers of re-admissions, we can increase our capacity to do more elective and urgent surgeries. Especially since patients transition home sooner after surgery, globally remote patient monitoring is going to be the way of the future," said Michael McGillion, assistant dean, research, School of Nursing at McMaster, scientist at PHRI, and co-principal investigator of the trial.
The study is recruiting 900 adults across Canada who have undergone semi-urgent cancer surgeries, urgent surgeries such as hip fractures, or emergency surgeries such as a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
Patients receive technology called Connected Health by Cloud DX, which includes a tablet and remote monitoring equipment to assess six biophysical parameters: blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, temperature, and weight.
Nursing staff teach patients how to use the equipment before they are discharged from hospital. Then, for thirty days after surgery, patients take their vital signs and complete daily surveys that assess their recovery. Data is relayed wirelessly to the virtual nursing station at HHS where nurses assess the data and conduct secure virtual video visits.
If data shows issues or if a patient needs help, they have access to their nurse and physician 24 hours a day, seven days a week through two-way secure video linkage or texting.
For Ernst Seeger from Niagara, participating in the study has given him a feeling of security knowing that his care team is a click away.
"I had a concern on a Saturday night at 10 p.m. I was stubborn at first, but finally my wife made me call my team. I had a video assessment with my doctor that night and he ordered prescriptions for me," said Seeger. "I didn't have to leave my home."
Trial participants who are not randomized to receive virtual nursing station care receive the current standard care which is at the discretion of the surgeon. Typically, this care includes an in-person clinic visit in two to eight weeks after discharge from the hospital.
"As healthcare consumers, we have to be able to work in partnership with patients and families to offer alternative approaches to care," said Jennifer Lounsbury, trial collaborator, a chief of inter-professional practice at HHS and assistant clinical professor, School of Nursing at McMaster.
"The virtual nursing station approach to care allows us to connect with patients and help them seek any needed medical treatments earlier than they otherwise would have. As one of our patient and family advisory council members recently told us, 'The time for change is now,'" she added.
###
Participating hospitals include Hamilton Health Sciences, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, London Health Sciences, Kingston Health Sciences, The Ottawa Hospital, Winnipeg Health Sciences and University of Alberta Hospital.
Seed funding for the PVC-RAM trial was received through Roche Canada's COVID-19 Innovation Challenge.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Veronica McGuire
Media Relations
McMaster University
vmcguir@mcmaster.ca
289-776-6952
Roxanne Torbiak
Public Relations
Hamilton Health Sciences
torbiakr@HHSC.CA
289-795-8604
Boilerplates:
About McMaster University
McMaster University is Canada's most research-intensive university and is consistently ranked as one of the world's Top 100 universities. Together, our researchers, students and staff advance human and societal health and well-being, creating a Brighter World.
About Hamilton Health Sciences
Hamilton Health Sciences is a hospital system of 15,000 staff, physicians, researchers and volunteers that proudly serves south central Ontario residents. We also provide specialized, advanced care to people from across the province.
We are a world-renowned hospital for healthcare research. We focus daily on improving the quality of care for our patients through innovation and evidence-based practices.
About the Population Health Research Institute
The Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) is a global health research institute and a world leader in large clinical trials and population studies. Originally formed in 1999 with a focus on cardiovascular disease and diabetes, PHRI's research areas have broadened to include population genomics, perioperative medicine and surgery, brain health, thrombosis, renal, infectious diseases, and more. PHRI is a joint institute of McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences.
About Cloud DX
Cloud DX is a leader in digital healthcare with rapidly growing sales across North America. Our complete remote patient monitoring platform incorporates proprietary medical devices, mobile apps, clinical dashboards, artificial intelligence and EMR integration. In one recent third party study, Cloud DX technology reduced hospital admissions due to COPD while achieving 100% patient satisfaction. The company is the co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist and the recent winner of the Waterloo MedTech Startup to Scale Up Award of Excellence.
Veronica McGuire
Media Relations
Faculty of Health Sciences
location: HSC-2E47
phone: (905) 525-9140 x 22169
email: vmcguir@mcmaster.ca