The Long-Term Plan by the NHS includes to promote the use of technology to help reduce the pressures on GP Practices and improve care which would in turn help support those who live and work in and around Care Homes. Urgent care services in Norfolk and Waveney, in common with many other places, are stretched.
There is evidence to suggest that many older people deteriorate after a stay in hospital, and homes often lack the extra staff that would be needed to escort their elderly residents, resulting in a lonely and confusing experience. This project aimed to provide Care Home staff with a digital solution for remote observations to enable timely, responsive care and treatment for residents. Bluetooth technology enables Care Home staff to easily take observations to detect deterioration in residents earlier, along with an escalation protocol to ensure that the resident receives the right treatment at the right time in the right environment.
When consulting with Care Home staff about a resident, clinicians can benefit from accurate and timely observations. Clearly defined pathways for escalating concerns provided guidance for non-clinical Care Home staff to enable timelier and more responsive care and treatment for their residents. Care Home managers and staff were provided with a virtual training programme covering NEWS2, soft signs of deterioration, how to use the Whzan portal set up staff users and resident caseloads and how to use the Bluetooth equipment and the tablet in the Whzan Blue Box.
Care Home staff use the remote monitoring solution to record baseline observations for their residents at regular times. This information can then be accessed by clinicians to inform them of comparable readings if a resident is unwell.
Recordings of vital signs has also been evidenced in detecting new medical conditions. Care Home staff feel more empowered and upskilled by using technology for observations they complete with residents. Care staff have also said during weekly ward rounds they feel more comfortable discussing residents that are unwell, as they have a NEWS2 score to support their concerns.
