Authors (including presenting author) :
Yiu KC (1), Tong AYH (1), Tsai CPC (1), Lau KW (1), Fan MT (1), Lau JK (1), Lee KCY (1), Cheung AHL(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Information Technology and Health Informatics Division(IT&HI), Hospital Authority Head Office(HAHO)
Introduction :
Vital signs observation is an important clinical monitoring and indication of patient condition; and their measurements are frequently conducted and reviewed by healthcare professionals at inpatient 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. To tackle the situation with IT solution, HO IT&HI takes the lead in response to the clinical need; an innovative product for data digitalization of vital signs and electronic documentation was developed so as to meet the direction of HA on smart ward approach.
Objectives :
This project aims at developing Electronic Vital Signs (e-Vital) App for application of 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, high accessibility, user-friendly platform and data integration at clinical systems 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 and further implementation at HA.
Result & Outcome :
As at 4Q 2022, 26 hospitals at 7 clusters with over 300 wards have started to launch e-Vital; over 55 million vital signs measurements have already been captured at e-Vital. With the application, it not only achieves a timely and accurate data entry via electronic documentation, and also streamlines the clinical workflow by auto retrieval of work list, auto charting and auto scoring of parameter readings as well as getting data directly from physio-monitor device by hardware interface. Healthcare professionals can now review patients with electronic vital signs chart in a more convenience way which is not limited to workstation and also via application of mobile devices. Eventually, a better clinical outcome and staff experience on application of technology innovation are accomplished. The feasibility of more clinical system integration will be explored for the information-driven approach.
