Remote monitoring in virtual wards for acutely unwell patients being managed and treated on an ambulatory care pathway: feasibility study
Acutely unwell patients receiving care from the Oxford University Hospital (OUH) acute hospital-at-home services
Participants will be provided with the VIABLE monitoring system which consists of an adhesive chest patch that will collect vital signs data (e.g. heart rate), and a pulse oximeter; both devices relay data continuously to a tablet computer that transfers data to a clinician's dashboard. Participants will also be provided with a blood pressure monitor and an in-ear thermometer and will be asked to take regular measurements with these devices and record these in a participant diary.
1. The AAU clinical team has determined it is clinically appropriate to manage the patient at home and the patient will be admitted to the Hospital at Home virtual ward 2. Acutely ill (a deterioration in health that has taken place over days or weeks) and assessed as requiring diagnostic tests and treatments including the following interventions (oxygen, fluids, diuretics, intravenous antibiotics) that can be delivered at home. 3. Assessed as having at least one of the following diagnoses (multiple acute problems may present together): 3.1. Lowerrespiratorytractinfection 3.2. Cellulitis 3.3. Urinary tract infection 3.4. Systemic evidence of acute infection but unclear primary source of infection 3.5. Acute Kidney Injury due to dehydration, infection, medication, or heart failure 3.6. Heart failure with acute fluid overload 4. Willing and able to go home with a skin contact vital-sign monitoring system (chest patch) 5. Resides within the area served by an acute hospital at-home service 6. Participant is EITHER: 6.1. Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study, OR 6.2. Favourable consultee advice is provided for those lacking capacity 7. Male or Female aged 18 years or above
1. The research team is not satisfied that remote monitoring can be safely established in the patient’s home 2. Pregnancy 3. Unable to comply with the study procedures 4. The mobile phone network at the patient’s residence is unsuitable for safe and effective monitoring