Patient Safety: Transforming Healthcare with Virtual Patient Observation and Remote Monitoring

Virtual patient observation (VPO) has the potential to transform patient safety at a critical time when public awareness is focused on trust. A 2023 New England Journal of Medicine study found that 23.6% of admitted patients suffered an adverse event. 

VPO can significantly reduce adverse occurrences and bring faster response times, improving patient outcomes and growing trust in healthcare safety. A Spano-Szekely study demonstrated a 54% decrease in falls using a multi-faceted program with video observation. 

The Era of Digital Vigilance in Healthcare 

Virtual patient observation allows remote monitoring of multiple patients in real-time from a single point. You can anticipate medical complications and respond quickly to emergencies, improving patient care. To set up a VPO system, you will need advanced equipment and software, such as: 

• Video cameras: Placing video cameras in hospital rooms allows sitters to observe multiple patients simultaneously from a central monitoring station. 
• Telehealth carts: Innovative audio-visual and tablet carts allow you to transport patient monitoring equipment to the point of care. 
• Remote monitoring devices: Blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters, and glucometers, in combination with video observation equipment, allow staff to monitor, report, and analyze patient’s acute or chronic conditions remotely.  
• Communication equipment: Your video technology should enable real-time communication between patients and healthcare professionals. 
• Centralized monitoring station: Sitters can simultaneously monitor up to nine patients from a centralized location using software like VALT. 

Healthcare professionals can reap multiple benefits and deliver high-quality virtual care to patients by utilizing these innovative tools and equipment. 

Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring in Patient Care 

Using video for real-time monitoring brings several benefits to patients and healthcare providers: 

• Improved patient care: Advanced equipment and software designed for remote monitoring help healthcare providers deliver the best possible real-time care to patients. 
• Cost-effectiveness: Virtual patient observation can help healthcare organizations overcome financial hurdles while improving patient safety. Providers can reduce costs for live patient sitters and expenses associated with hiring and training staff. 
• Scalability: A single software can support unlimited cameras, users, and departments while keeping content segmented and secure. 
• Real-time communication: Virtual patient observation enables staff members to communicate with patients in real-time, addressing potential issues and alerting clinical staff when necessary. 

Capsa Healthcare’s Innovative Telemedicine Solutions 

A leader in healthcare technology solutions, Capsa Healthcare provides state-of-the-art tablet and monitor carts that support and secure your valuable iPads, tablets, and audio-visual and medical devices.   

Capsa engineers Tryten mobile medical carts that are compatible with multiple devices and accessories. This diverse collection of mobile carts and over 40 accessories enable providers to move supplies and equipment around easily to meet any healthcare scenario.  

Here are some of Tryten’s mobile cart offerings: 

• The S1 Tablet Cart is preferred by clinicians and patients because of its articulating arm that holds any tablet in the most comfortable position for optimum, hands-free viewing. 
• The S2 Tablet Cart is a small, lightweight option with a wide range of accessories for iPads, tablets, or monitors. 
• S5 Monitor Cart’s 72-inch height and ability to support a 32-inch monitor make it ideal for telehealth conferencing. 
• The X1 Monitor Cart provides heavy-duty capabilities for larger monitors and has sturdy brackets for peripherals. 

You can use Tryten’s range of carts and accessories for far more than VPO. Other applications include telehealth, virtual rounding, virtual visits, and EHR workflows. 

Virtual Observation in Real-Life Scenarios 

The growing body of VPO research documentation reflects overwhelmingly positive findings. Multiple VPO users have shared success stories in telehealth. 

Collette Health reports that its clients saw a 68% reduction in their in-patient fall rates with Collette Health’s 360-degree virtual solution. The solution allows virtual observers to monitor up to 12 patients. 

A Medical Care Research and Review study examined how emergency room VPO participants experienced increased clinician/staff interactions, patient participation in care delivery, and involvement of paramedics and coordinators in patient care.  

Another study published in the Journal of Patient Safety reported that falls decreased by 89% in hospitals using mobile VPO. 

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems also reports improvements in patient care after the implementation of virtual nursing. Scores rating healthcare communications improved from 6.2% to 17.4%. The report attributed the improvements to uninterrupted communications between providers and patients. 

Study after study shows that virtual patient observation improves patient outcomes. 

Improving Patient Outcomes with VPO Technology 

VPO technology positively influenced patient recovery rates, safety, and satisfaction and was responsible for increased: 

• Adherence to recommended therapies: Remote patient monitoring has increased adherence to recommended therapies and reduced missed follow-up visits. 
• Care escalation: Clinicians can respond faster to emergencies and escalate care when necessary, improving patient safety. 
• Patient satisfaction: About 60% of physician respondents report patient monitoring programs increased patient satisfaction rates in their organizations. 
• Cost reduction: Virtual patient observation can reduce sitter costs dramatically by allowing one person to monitor and safeguard multiple patients simultaneously. 

With VPO technology, hospitals can reduce overall fall rates, healthcare costs, and readmissions. 

Explore Capsa’s Innovative Solutions at the ATA Trade Show  

See the latest innovative VPO solutions at The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) 2024 Annual Conference and Expo, which will be held on May 5–7 in Phoenix, AZ.  

Capsa Healthcare’s Tryten Monitor and Tablet Carts will be a trade show focus. These mobile carts move on whisper-quiet wheels to provide a highly versatile and discreet mount for your tablets, monitors, speakers, and cameras. You can easily configure these mobile carts to create the best VPO system for your organization. 

At the ATA Expo, you can enjoy hands-on experiences with our industry-leading mobile monitor carts that transport your VPO equipment to any point of care in your facility.  

The Tryten S1 Tablet Cart is a favorite among clinicians and patients because of its articulating arm, nearly silent wheels, and small footprint. Users are enthusiastic about being able to easily position a tablet in the optimal location for hands-free video communication regardless of the patient or practitioners’ position — standing, sitting, or even lying down. 

The Road Ahead: Technology and Patient Safety  

VPO and remote patient monitoring (RPM) are poised to revolutionize healthcare delivery while improving patient safety. Interesting virtual care trends include: 

• Centralized virtual care departments: Leading healthcare providers are creating virtual urgent care departments. 
• Expansion of remote monitoring: Wearables, sensors, and continuous RPM allow healthcare providers to collect patient data outside traditional healthcare settings. 
• Patient-centered care and engagement: Patients are more empowered to participate actively in their care management, improving overall patient outcomes. 
• Blend of virtual and in-person care: Patient preferences are leaning toward a mix of virtual and in-person care customized to their needs. Healthcare is shifting toward a more personalized and consumer-centric approach. 

These trends reflect a broader movement toward more efficient, cost-effective, and patient-centered healthcare delivery using virtual care and remote patient monitoring technologies.  

The future of virtual health services like VPO and RPM is promising. These innovative technologies can be impactful in increasing patient safety and participation, offering significant growth opportunities for organizations that adopt them effectively. 

Final Thoughts on Patient Safety and Innovation 

Transformative telehealth innovations such as VPO have the potential to improve patient safety and care significantly. Some of the benefits VPO and RPM can bring are faster response times, reduced adverse occurrences, and improved patient outcomes. 

These technologies enhance patient care and safety and offer cost-effectiveness, scalability, and real-time communication. VPO is a promising tool for the future of healthcare delivery. 

Continual healthcare innovation plays a vital role in ensuring patient safety. Capsa Healthcare is committed to pioneering quality product innovations that help different organizations stay ahead of the fast-shifting changes in technology and patient preferences in the healthcare industry.