NZ first at Coronary Care Unit

27 Feb 2018, 10:57

Hawke’s Bay Hospital’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU) is the first in the country to install new state-of-the-art technology this month, allowing patients to be hooked up to mobile software that feeds real-time information via wifi onto multiple screens, including hand-held devices.

The technology, called “Mindray”, is being installed by Connected Healthcare Systems following a tender process to upgrade monitoring equipment.

Hawke’s Bay District Health Board medical service director, Paula Jones, said the $345,000 investment was money well spent. 

“The technology is significant because it not only gives patients the freedom to move around, rather than being hooked up in bed to traditional hard-wire monitoring systems, but specialists can keep track of their patients at the push of a button,” she said.

 “Ward staff also have the ability to closely monitor patients via large touch screens at the nurses’ station, even if the patient is away from the ward. For example, if a patient needs to go to another department for tests, they can stay hooked up to their wireless monitoring devices meaning cardiology staff can keep constant track of their vital signs.”

Should a patient be discharged and later return to hospital, their previous monitoring information can also be quickly retrieved and viewed by specialists at the click of a button.

Patient Trevor Klempel of Hastings said he was impressed with the new mobile devices.

“Previously if I needed to go to the toilet, I’d need to ring the bell for the nurses whereas now I can just get up and go for a walk, or to the toilet, without having to do any of that. It’s great,” he said.

Connected Healthcare Systems product specialist Steve McDowell said the technology was widely used in the UK, Europe and Australia.  Other DHBs in New Zealand were planning installations in the near future, he said.