In recent years, the healthcare industry has rapidly expanded its use of technology to improve patient outcomes and manage costs. This trend has led to a proliferation of medical devices that support nursing practice, including mobile apps for tracking medication administration and vital signs, automated ingestion detection systems, and alerts for patients entering at-risk conditions. This post discusses several key trends in healthcare technology that nurses should be aware of.
- Automated IV Pumps
Automated IV pumps deliver drugs and fluids to patients via a catheter over a long period. Traditionally, nurses have relied on these pumps to deliver large volumes of intravenous (IV) medications, such as antibiotics and glucose solutions, while monitoring the patient’s vital signs to ensure safe administration.
Today, automated IV pumps are becoming more advanced in functionality, offering options for drug delivery based on feedback from the patient’s vital signs. For example, researchers at the University of Michigan have developed an automated IV pump that alerts nurses when a patient’s blood pressure falls below a certain threshold. The pump then delivers more medication to lower the systolic blood pressure back toward normality. While this pump may not be widely available in hospitals, other similar technologies are becoming more common.
- Portable Monitors
Modern healthcare facilities are equipped with various monitoring devices to track patients’ vital signs. However, these devices are often clunky and therefore difficult to use on the go. As a result, many hospitals are providing portable monitors to improve patient care and reduce on-site staff costs. For example, the American Hospital Association has reported that hospitals in New Hampshire had seen $2 million in savings per year by equipping each bed with a wireless blood pressure monitor.
- Wearable Devices
Healthcare facilities are adopting wearables at an increasing rate. Many of these devices provide alerts for patient safety and facilitate the timely delivery of medications. For example, a hospital in New York City has installed over 15,000 Bluetooth smart sensors on its inpatient units to measure vital signs such as heart rate and blood pressure. Each of these sensors is paired with a mobile app that sends information to administrators through a secure network. These data are then used to monitor the progress of individual patients and adjust medication levels accordingly.
- Smart Beds
Modern hospital beds offer various physical comfort options and alerts to patients. Today, hospitals are beginning to equip these beds with mobile apps that track patients’ vital signs and movement. For example, a variety of Android devices, such as the Google Fit app, are available that track heart rate and physical activity while the patient is resting in bed.
