Mission critical: how Hirslanden Klinik Aarau is improving patient monitoring and throughput
Topics
At a glance
Partner Hirslanden Klinik Aarau, Switzerland
Challenge Improve the efficiency of processes in the anesthesia department without compromising the quality of care.
Our solution Philips IntelliVue transport monitors enable efficient continuous monitoring – increasing patient throughput for lower patient wait times and higher case load.
Results
Share on social media
Gaps in patient monitoring during in-hospital transitions of acute patients to and from procedures can be dangerous for the patient and leave providers with incomplete medical records. When Swiss hospital Hirslanden Klinik Aarau replaced the fixed and wall-mounted patient monitoring equipment in its anesthesia department with Philips IntelliVue mobile monitors it benefited in two ways.
Improving patient care by closing gaps in monitoring
In-hospital transitions of acute patients to and from procedures can be time consuming and create bottlenecks in staff workflow. When there are gaps in monitoring – created for example by the need to detach and reattach sensors from wall-mounted equipment in different rooms – these transitions can also be potentially dangerous for the patient. In summer 2013, Hirslanden Klinik Aarau hoped to improve the clinical workflow in its surgical department by replacing the conventional, wall-mounted patient monitoring equipment with a portable solution. Philips worked with the hospital to replace patient monitoring in all anesthesia-related rooms. The scope of the project included using Philips IntelliVue X2 monitors in all operating theaters with induction rooms, recovery rooms and the intensive care unit.
"The equipment swap has simplified workflows considerably and has also helped us improve patient care during transfer from the theater to the recovery room."
Andreas Wenger Head of Operations, Anesthesia Department at Hirslanden Klinik Aarau
Because the IntelliVue X2 monitor is small and portable, it only needs to be attached to the patient once and then accompanies them all the way from the induction room to the operating theater, right through to the recovery room—eliminating up to two sensor attachment and removal procedures. As well as replacing the fixed monitors without any service interruptions, Philips provided customer-specific configuration and user training on the new monitors.
Philips worked with the hospital to replace patient monitoring in all anesthesia-related rooms. The scope of the project included using Philips IntelliVue X2 monitors in all operating theaters with induction rooms, recovery rooms and the intensive care unit.
Three months later: improved workflows and continuous care
Philips also sent a team to measure whether the hospital achieved its initial goals. To do so, the team monitored perioperative process times during two three-day visits – once immediately before and once three months after the swap. They found that the elimination of workflow steps helped to save an average of five minutes 30 seconds per case. Whereas patients previously had to go without physiological monitoring during transfer from the induction room to the theater and, most notably, to the recovery room immediately after the procedure, the portable X2 monitor now enables patient monitoring without interruption during these particularly delicate stages – eliminating a gap of just under 15 minutes. Results from case studies are not predictive of results in other cases. Results in other cases may vary.
Hirslanden Klinik Aarau, Switzerland
Hirslanden Klinik Aarau, which treats more than 10,000 inpatients each year, is the largest private hospital in the Swiss plateau between Bern and Zurich. It is one of 18 hospitals run by the Hirslanden Private Hospital Group, many of which have an outpatient surgical center and an emergency department. The group also runs four outpatient practice centers, 17 radiology centers and five radiotherapy centers. This makes it the largest medical network in Switzerland.
Share on social media
