Philips launches ‘first of its kind’ patient monitoring Early Warning Score (EWS) system for the hospital ward

Guildford, UK – Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG; AEX: PHIA) has today announced the UK launch of Philips General Ward Solutions at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) in London. Philips General Ward Solutions is the next generation in smart vital sign monitoring systems, bringing to market the first monitoring system to provide a fully automated and configurable early warning scoring system for the hospital ward, ensuring rapid response of caregivers to deteriorating patients.

“The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery is proud of its partnership with Philips to pioneer the use of advanced medical innovations for the benefit of its patients,” comments NHNN deputy divisional clinical director Sally Wilson. “As a leading UK neurological and neurosurgical hospital, we are committed to trialling new solutions to improve patient care. This is an ideal site for the launch of a  new EWS system in a general ward environment.”

Philips General Ward Solutions integrate the latest smart monitoring technology into the low acuity setting, utilising spot-check monitors and data to provide caregivers on the general floor direct access to an automated scoring system based on parameters defined by the clinical teams. It is designed to facilitate faster interventions to improve patient care, by alerting care teams to the earlier, often more subtle, signals of patient deterioration.

Dr Chris Subbe, Consultant in Acute, Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine based at Bangor University and leader of the comparative study at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: “Philips General Ward Solutions are transforming care by bringing the safety net of ITU into the general ward. The systems’ connect clinicians with the right skills to those patients who are most at risk and with customisable escalation protocols, the software helps to deliver care that is matched to individual patients' specific needs.”

The EWS score is calculated directly on the monitor at the bedside and seamlessly uploaded to a central dashboard and Patient Administration System. If the EWS reading requires attention from the acute outreach team, a notification with patient information is automatically directed to the relevant team member through mobile phone alerts, the central ward monitoring hub or the outreach team office. This allows the patient’s care team to respond and intervene earlier to deterioration. By removing manual processes, Philips General Ward Solutions reduces non-care workload at the bedside, removes the risk of human error, improves compliance with EWS protocols and provides instant access to accurate data and reports to support necessary auditing. The system can be deployed to one ward or to all the low acuity wards in a hospital, each with their own unique configuration. UK findings within the Future Health Index, a recent report commissioned by Philips, revealed that 88% of Health Care Professionals believe integration of the health system will make the quality of care better¹.”    

“This global-first innovation by Philips has demonstrated significant benefits to patients and hospital teams. At a time of increased pressure on national health systems, we are committed to lead the development of new technologies that help meet patient and clinician needs and improve patient outcomes. With Philips General Ward Solutions, we want to help make general care a proactive speciality by facilitating quicker, more tailored responses to early warning score escalation protocols ” said Jodie Bridge. “It’s the first system to offer automated EWS triggers, bringing a new level of patient data analysis and mobilisation to the general ward, so patient monitoring helps realise administrative efficiencies, in patient care in accordance with the vision of the Five Year Forward View.”

At original test site Ysbyty Gwynedd, the General Hospital in Bangor, the VITAL II study found that the installation of Philips General Ward Solutions has been associated with a reduction in the occurrence of serious adverse events by 24% and an 86% reduction in cardiac arrests. As well as significant reductions in mortality, ICU admissions, ICU sickness and ICU mortality. 

¹ To download the Future Health Index 2017 report in its entirety, please click on this link. For additional Future Health Index related content, please visit: www.futurehealthindex.com.