Oxford Health uses Oxehealth technology to transform observations at night

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust hasintroduced a newobservationprotocol for checkingthe safety of patients with severe mental health conditionsat night,after a formal evaluationoftechnologyfrom Oxehealth. The change means nursesno longerhave todisturb patients up to four times an hourat nightif they are being cared for inone of theroomsequipped with the Oxehealth Digital Care Assistant(DCATM), which uses an optical sensor to detect movement, pulse and breathing rate. Ina change to long-standingnationalpractice,nurseson the Vaughan Thomas Ward, a male acute inpatient ward atthe Warneford Hospital, nowuse the DCAin some roomsto observe movement andmeasurevital signs.Nurses conduct observations more quickly but no less safely, while patients get a better night’s sleep and benefit from more privacy and dignity during their stay. Vanessa Odlin, Oxford Health’sjointservicedirectorfor Oxfordshire,BaNES, Swindon, and Wiltshire mental health, said: “We have used nursing observations in mental health care for a longtime, and we have always had tosee patients in person. Now we do not have to do that. “The experience of people involved in this project has been absolutely, astoundingly positive. Patients have recognised that this is about getting a better night’s sleep and not having nurses disturb them at night by coming into their roomor looking through avision panelin the door. “Nurses have seen this as a way to improve their relationship with patients and their experience of the ward. The project hasalso shown staff that problems can be solved.We can be innovative and use technology to deliver real benefits for patients.” Oxford Health started working with OxehealthafterDr Alvaro Barrera, consultant psychiatrist at the trust, led astudy on theimportance of sleep to recoveryon Vaughan Thomas wardin 2016,backed bythe Health Foundation. With support from the NationalInstitute forHealthResearch (NIHR)Oxford Health BRC and NIHR CLAHRC, towards themiddleof 2018,the trustinstalled the DCA in its higher acuity corridor (six of the eighteen patient bedrooms) on Vaughan Thomas ward. The rooms were chosenbecause they are used by the most severely unwell patients who may need to be observed every 15 minutes.After careful evaluation, the newobservation protocol was introduced in February 2019 and a service improvement evaluation was carried out to study its impact. The evaluationrevealed that the staff can confirm patient safety without disturbing or waking resting patients at night. Between February and April 2019, more than 5,000 observations were taken over 300 patient nights using the new protocol. An in-depth evaluation of 52 observations taken over six patient nights confirmed that the observations taken with the support of the DCA were just as safe as those taken without it, and there have beenno incidents related to the system. Professor John Geddes,directorof research and developmentat the trust andhead of the department ofpsychiatry for Oxford University, said:“The findings show that introducing the modified protocol essentially removes the need for staff to routinely wake patients to check they are safe. It greatly improves patients’experience at night.” Additionally, a survey found that 86% of patients questioned felt their privacy had improved at night, and 100% said they“felt safer”and“sleep better”. Carol Gee, the modern matron on Vaughan Thomas ward, said: “We engaged with the nursing team, patients and their families before the sensors were installed. We emphasised that they were not about replacing nursing judgement, but about giving patients a better night’s sleep and enhancing their privacy and dignity. “Using this technologydefinitelyfeels like a step forward. The DCA is not intrusive, and it has had a significant impact on patient care, which is what we are all working to improve. It lets people have a restful night’s sleep while letting us carry out physical and mental health checks in a more compassionate way.” Dr Alvaro Barrera, a consultant psychiatrist on Vaughan Thomas wardand Oxford University honorary senior clinical lecturer,whoisthelead researcher on the project,said: “This system is a real innovation in mental health; while you constantly see developments in physical care a change like this just hasn’t been seen in years.The sensors act as a valuable tool to improve patient experience and also free up nurses for other tasks, so they can dedicate more time to patients who need more intensive care.” Further work will be undertaken on this finding and on the clinical impact of the DCA.Oxford Healthishopingtoextend the DCA tothe rest of Vaughan Thomas ward andis looking at expanding its reach to otherwardswithinthe trust. Hugh Lloyd-Jukes, chief executive of Oxehealth, said:“The project has shown that introducing Oxehealth’s Digital Care Assistant improves patients’ experience, saves valuable stafftime,and generates vital, previously unavailable data. Many other trusts are already moving in the same direction, with 19% of all the mental health trusts in Englandchoosing to support their brilliant staff with these unique clinically validated digital teammates. We look forward to working with them to deliver similar benefits to their staff and patients.” Ends Notes 1Whitepaper:A good night’s sleep: a new standard for night observations in mental health hospitals.By: Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust with support from Oxehealth. https://www.oxehealth.com/site-media/oxfordhealth-whitepaper 2NIHR Oxford Health BRC stands for the National Institute for Health Research Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre. 3NIHR CLAHRC stands for the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care. 4The service improvement projectis alsoa part of the Global Digital Exemplar work conducted atOxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.In 2017, Oxford Health was one of just seven NHS trusts delivering mental healthcare to be named a Global Digital Exemplar for its innovative use of technology to care for people who use mental health services. The DCA is just one of the projects currently under this remit. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (OHFT) provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset. Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes. We focus on delivering care as close to home as possible. As a leading teaching, training and research trust, we have close links to Oxford and Oxford Brookes, Buckinghamshire, Reading and Bath universities. We are part of the Oxford Academic Health Science Centre, working closely with our university colleagues to translate their findings into clinical care as quickly as possible, enabling people using our services to benefit from the latest advances in healthcare. We host the NIHR Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre with OxfordUniversity andaim to bring the best science to the complex problems of mental disorders and dementia. We also host the Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) Oxford; a partnership between universities, healthcare commissioners and providers, charities and industry targeting health and social care problems in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley.www.oxfordhealth.nhs.ukAbout Oxehealth Oxehealth was founded by the head of engineering at Oxford University, Professor Lionel Tarassenko in 2012. Since then, it has become a UK tech success story, with financial backing from IP Group Plc and Ora Capital, two major investment trusts committed to supporting UK science for the long-term. Oxehealth’s Digital Care Assistant products are already used by10mental health trusts (19% of all the mental health trusts in England),fourcare home chains in the UK and Sweden and two police forces. Oxehealth’s software solutions act as an assistant for staff when they cannot be present in a room, or do not want to disturb an individual. They enable optical sensors to alert clinicians, carers andcarersto high-risk activity, take spot vital sign measurements and review activity& sleepreports. This helps staff to improve the care of the elderly and vulnerable by reducing injuries and enabling staff to spend more time on hands-on care. A case study has been published about Oxehealth’s work at Manor Hospital, part of Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, where falls are a major risk. Staff report that the Digital Care Assistant has “become the sixth member of our team on the night shift.” About Oxehealth’s vital signs measurement software Oxehealth uses proprietary signal processing and computer vision to processoptical sensordata to measure pulse rate and breathing rate and is intended for the non-invasive spot measurement of these vital signs.It isa Class II(a) medical device in Europe. It isa fixed-installation device for use within single occupancy rooms covered by a framework that mandates periodic checks by a trained professional to ensure subject safety. See device Instructions for Use for intended use, contraindications, warnings, cautions, usage directions and maintenance. For further information visit:https://www.oxehealth.com/https://twitter.com/Oxehealthhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/Oxehealth/ For Media enquiries contact: Susan Venables, Highland Marketing on behalf of Oxehealth +44 (0)1877 339922+44 (0)7971 166936susanv@highland-marketing.com Erica Lamb,Communications andEngagementOfficer at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust +44 (0)1865 902225communications.team@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk