Authors (including presenting author) :
Yiu KC(1), Lau KW(1), Fan MT(1), WU SY(1), Tong YH (1), Tsai PC(1), Lee CY(1), Cheung HL(1), Au WC (1), Wan CN(1), Chan CK(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Information Technology and Health Informatics Division, Hospital Authority Head Office
Introduction :
Vital signs observation is an important clinical monitoring and indication of body status of patients; and their measurements are frequently conducted by nurses or patient care assistants at wards day-to-day. Owing to the current practice of paper documentation, there are limitations such as data accessibility, data interpretation, inefficient communication and paper storage. Subsequently, to meet the direction of HA on smart ward approach, HOIT&HI leads the data digitalization of vital signs with electronic documentation.
Objectives :
This project aims at developing Electronic Vital Signs (e-Vital) App for pilot with technology innovation acquisition from mobile device alongside the clinical workflow for digitalization approach.
Methodology :
The development of e-Vital App is under the theme of Smart Hospital Program. The system design was deliberated in terms of high accuracy, work effectiveness, good accessibility, user-friendly platform and data transfer via system interface for day-to-day clinical service. The five strategic elements including Data Digitalization, Auto Charting, Auto Scoring, Aberrations Alert and Data Sharable were embedded in the project which has brought forward into pilot in Oct 2019 at HA.
Result & Outcome :
As at 4Q2020, twelve pilot wards at acute and convalescent hospitals have been launched e-Vital App during the initial phase. With the application, not only it achieved a timely and accurate data entry via electronic documentation, but also streamlined the clinical workflow by retrievable worklist, auto charting and auto scoring of parameter readings as well as getting data directly from physio-monitor device by hardware interface. With the synergy effect of implementation of Smart Panel, healthcare professionals can now view the electronic vital signs chart in a more convenience way which is not limited to workstation and also via application of mobile devices. In addition, the aberrations alert and outstanding work list can promptly draw the attention from healthcare professionals for necessary actions. Eventually, a better clinical outcomes and staff experience by application of technology innovation can be accomplished. For the way forward, the feasibility of interfacing other clinical systems will be further explored so as to beef up the information-driven approach.
