World Stroke Day - raise awareness & improve care the Oxehealth way
Today, Wednesday the 29th of October 2014, is World Stroke Day. It's a day of worldwide observance and awareness of a disease that is the second leading cause of disability, after dementia, and which effects on average 152,000 people each year in the UK alone.
On a global scale an estimated 15 million people worldwide suffer from a stroke, per year, of which nearly six million die and another five million are left permanently disabled. As a result, today has been conceived to educate people about stoke prevention, while honouring survivors and people who have made scientific advances in treating stroke related illnesses. It also highlights that there's still a lot to be done...
We've recently discussed stroke aftercare following reports of stroke fatalities being linked to weekend nursing shortage in our vital sign monitoring technology could potentially put confidence back into care blog. Tomorrow's Care also reported on this: Stroke patients more likely to die with fewer nurses on hand, following a landmark study of NHS hospitals. The research revealed that stroke patients admitted into hospital on weekends are 35 per cent more likely to die than those admitted during the week, which is simply unacceptable.
Stroke patients require around the clock care and monitoring, and even though nothing can replace the skills and expertise of well-trained nursing staff, due to over stretched wards and hectic caseloads care can easily be compromised. Nurses are not in a position to constantly one-to-one monitor blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart rate and body temperature which are critical in the days following a stroke but medical technology is.
Our patented noncontact health monitoring technology has been primarily developed for monitoring patients in hospitals, yet it has numerous real-world, non-health applications as well. The Oxecam allows monitoring for extended periods, and because it is non-contact avoids the physical limitations and discomfort of 'wired' solutions, while boasting an array of healthcare-friendly hygiene advantages.
Using machine-learning algorithms, the Oxecam can check for early signs of deterioration. If detected medical staff can then be warned, allowing them to address in a timely and efficient manner the patient's medical condition. Put simply, the Oxecam allows patients to be monitored effectively around the clock, freeing up time for nurses to manage their caseload.
Health IT technology has been hailed as the future of healthcare, and we believe it's just that. We need to be looking at innovative ways to improve the care of stroke victims, and improve in general healthcare around the world, starting today.
