In healthcare, one missed check can have serious consequences. That’s why many mental health services and hospitals are turning to digital observations - a more secure and efficient way to document patient checks, improve protocol adherence, and support safer care.
The evolution of observations
For years, inpatient teams have relied on hand-written practices for safety observations. Manual wellness checks using paper records take time to complete, lack audibility, can be easily falsified, and make it difficult to extract useful or actionable information to support patient care or identify trends over time.
The landscape is changing. Digital observations are transforming how staff monitor and respond to patient needs. By capturing digitally timestamped, accurate observations that are automatically uploaded to the patient’s electronic patient record (EPR), they close the gaps left by manual processes and give senior staff the knowledge and confidence that their facility is compliant. Additional features - including real-time compliance reporting, notifications for overdue or missed observations, 1:1 observation mode, patient photographs for identification, staff-to-patient proximity assurance, and a built-in observation schedule with patient assignment - further support safer, more accountable care delivery.
The Oxehealth platform takes this a step further. Designed specifically for mental health settings, this all-in-one platform not only digitises routine checks but delivers insights into vital signs, sleep, and activity to aid early risk detection. And it does all of this without requiring the patient to wear any device.. The results?
By having a platform that supports every aspect of inpatient care - from observations to vital signs, activity and sleep monitoring - teams are empowered to observe more effectively, respond faster, and deliver safer, more proactive care.
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) now uses the Oxehealth platform across all 44 of its inpatient wards as part of its standard approach to behavioural safety observations. Since adopting the platform, the Trust has seen meaningful improvements in efficiency, data quality, and staff confidence.
Originally introduced across five wards, the digital observations tool was used by a wide range of staff, both permanent and temporary, in a real-world clinical environment. Designed to replace paper-based routine observations, the platform enabled staff to carry out behavioural safety observations quickly via handheld devices, with data instantly uploaded to patients’ EPRs.
The results spoke volumes:
“[The Oxehealth platform] is very helpful to staff for quicker and better observations about patients in case of emergency.” - Ward staff member
There’s a worry that bringing more technology into care might make it feel less personal. But digital observations are doing the opposite. By digitising the documentation of routine safety checks, staff are benefiting from the timesavings and are no longer tied to clipboards. Instead, they have more time for meaningful, face-to-face care, armed with insight that helps them provide it better.
When thoughtfully implemented, tools empower healthcare teams to work more efficiently while keeping patients safer. They provide real-time visibility into risks, reduce duplication of effort, and support faster decision-making. By providing real-time visibility into observation status and patient risk, they reduce duplication, minimise documentation errors, and support timely, informed decision-making. Ultimately, it’s not about adding complexity, it’s about streamlining workflows so staff can spend less time on paperwork and more time delivering compassionate, person-centred care.
As the demands on healthcare services grow, there’s never been a greater need for tools that improve safety, promote personalised care, and simplify daily workflows. Digital observations deliver on all three.
For care providers and decision-makers looking to modernise, platforms like Oxehealth offer more than just efficiency, they offer better peace of mind. The question is no longer if digital rounds have a place in care delivery, but when.
