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21 May

Posted at 11:20h in Blog

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a stroke, making it one of the leading causes of serious long-term disability and death in the country. With more than 800,000 strokes occurring annually, the urgency for effective and efficient emergency care cannot be overstated. The difference between a full recovery and severe, lasting consequences often hinges on the time to intervention—specifically, the time from hospital arrival to the administration of critical medications.1 The Critical Window: First 60 Minutes Research has shown that administering treatment within the first 60 minutes of a stroke can dramatically reduce the risk of disability. This period, often referred to as the "golden hour," is crucial for the administration of thrombolytic drugs that can dissolve the blood clot causing the stroke. Unfortunately, achieving this has been a persistent challenge in many emergency departments across the nation. Enhancing Emergency Response To address this challenge, our innovative solution has been designed to seamlessly enhance existing workflows in emergency departments, particularly for the treatment of acute ischemic strokes. By integrating advanced third-party software systems, we provide a streamlined process that supports rapid decision-making and treatment administration. Impactful Results This solution has helped the clinical team yield profound improvements in stroke treatment metrics: 54% Reduction in...

15 May

Posted at 04:17h in Blog

Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are specialized groups in hospital settings designed to provide immediate care to patients showing signs of significant clinical deterioration. These teams play an important role in the hospital - act quickly to intervene early. The main goal of this virtual nursing model is to identify and treat patients at an early stage of unanticipated clinical decline to prevent the need for emergency or unplanned transfer to intensive care. Role and Importance of RRTs in Hospital Settings Rapid Response Team’s typically respond to patients after being notified by bedside care teams who observe a patient's condition worsening. Criteria for activating an RRT vary by institution but generally include changes in vital signs, level of consciousness, or other clinical indicators. Upon arrival, the team assesses the patient, administers immediate interventions, and decides on the best course of action: further monitoring, additional treatment, or transferring the patient from acute care to a higher level of care. Incorporating Decisio's Clinical Decision Support (CDS) into RRT Workflow By incorporating the use of Decisio’s Clinical Decision Support (CDS) solution into the existing workflow, this model significantly outperforms the traditional methods of activating the Rapid Response Team. The use of clinical decision support software provides...

09 May

Posted at 10:41h in Blog

In recent years, nursing burnout has escalated to a critical level, affecting the morale and well-being of nurses and ultimately impacting patient care. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, virtual nursing has emerged as a viable solution to address the challenges of burnout by improving workflow efficiencies and reducing administrative burdens. Let's explore the benefits of virtual nursing through insights from recent research and expert discussions....

29 Apr

Posted at 04:26h in Blog

In today’s healthcare landscape, the patient experience is more than a buzzword—it’s a core element of medical care that affects everything from patient outcomes to the reputation of healthcare facilities.  Let's dive into why making patient experiences a top priority is a game-changer for patients, hospitals, and healthcare teams. Improved Patient Outcomes Healthcare is all about helping people get better, but it’s not just the treatments that matter—it’s the whole experience. However, the patient experience encompasses more than just medical outcomes. It includes every interaction patients have with the healthcare system—from scheduling appointments to the manner in which doctors communicate. A positive patient experience often leads to better health outcomes. Studies have shown that when patients feel respected, supported, and understood, they are more likely to adhere to treatment plans, attend follow-up appointments, and actively manage their health, which can lead to quicker recoveries and reduced readmission rates ([Wolf 2016](https://dx.doi.org/10.35680/2372-0247.1147)). Increased Patient Satisfaction Patient satisfaction is a critical metric for evaluating the quality of care. A positive experience can significantly enhance patient loyalty and the likelihood of patients choosing the same hospital or clinic for future healthcare needs. Satisfied patients are also more likely to recommend the facility to friends and family, acting as...

15 Apr

Posted at 17:46h in Blog

The optimal oxygenation targets for mechanically ventilated patients remain a subject of debate, with conflicting evidence from the literature. However, a general consensus is emerging that hyperoxia, or excessively high oxygen levels, should be avoided....

26 Mar

Posted at 01:00h in Blog

In the treatment of sepsis, intravenous (IV) fluid management is a critical aspect of hemodynamic resuscitation aimed at restoring fluid volume and enhancing tissue perfusion....

03 Oct

Posted at 14:09h in Blog

In the United States, over 80,000 people die from opioid overdoses each year; this is an exponential increase from the 20,000 opioid-related deaths reported in 2010.1 It is estimated that more than 2.1 million people had an opioid use disorder as of 2017, and that number is expected to grow.2 Even more concerning, opioid-related deaths and opioid use disorders are estimated to cost the US over $1.2 trillion.2 Almost $35 billion of costs are related to healthcare and opioid disorder treatment every year.2 Thus, in addition to treating opioid addiction, prevention of opioid misuse has become a focus of public health.  Hospitals are at the forefront of this battle against opioid addiction. For many people with substance abuse disorders, their first use of an opioid occurs in a hospital or clinical setting. Opioids are initially prescribed to assist with pain from an injury or other medical condition. Initially, high doses of opioids may be necessary due to critical pain; however, the reduction of pain medication may not occur in an effective manner or at all. Further, many physicians who prescribe opioids for the initial injury are not pain management specialists, and they may not be aware of multimodal pain management strategies.3...

15 Aug

Posted at 13:36h in Blog

You may have heard of virtual nursing, and it is a rapidly growing field that offers many benefits for patients, nurses, and healthcare systems. Today’s nursing workforce needs to provide a higher level of care to a more significant number of patients. This increased workload has resulted in higher levels of burnout and staff turnover. As healthcare demand continues to rise, virtual nursing is a tool to expand the reach and capacity of the healthcare system. Importantly, telemedicine itself is not new to nursing. The first telenursing standards were published in 2001 (American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing).1 By leveraging the advantages of advanced software and communication technology, virtual nurses can help increase access to medical care, reduce costs, and improve patient and healthcare provider satisfaction. Increased Access to Care Those living in rural or underserved areas have limited access to essential care services. Since the pandemic, telemedicine use has exponentially increased, and healthcare access in rural communities has improved. As the adoption of digital technology grows, the number of patients wanting or needing virtual care has also increased. Today, virtual nursing is used for both remote medicine as well as in-hospital monitoring and consults. Virtual nurses can assist with initial visits,...

15 Jun

Posted at 13:46h in Blog

Improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs are key goals of any healthcare organization. Critical condition monitoring (CCM) and clinical intelligence (CI) are two essential tools that can contribute to an organization’s quality improvement efforts. CCM involves the continuous monitoring of patients' vital signs and other physiological parameters to assess the risk level of patients. CI refers to the use of advanced analytics and machine learning to identify patterns and alert clinical teams as soon as a patient is at risk. By combining CCM and CI, clinicians are better able to care for a larger number of patients, focus their attention on at-risk patients and make evidence-based decisions in real time. To embrace the true potential of this technology, hospital systems should take five critical steps. Implement Real-Time Monitoring:CCM technology uses advanced algorithms to analyze real-time data from the EHR and other medical devices, and alert teams when subtle changes are detected. CCM assists the clinical team (including the Rapid Response Teams[1] [2] ) with access to real-time, actionable information in multiple clinical settings including emergency departments, intensive care units (ICU), and general hospital floors, etc.The use of real-time monitoring can help reduce the risk of complications, thereby reducing the need for more...

25 Apr

Posted at 14:19h in Blog

In 2009, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) was passed by the United States Congress to “promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology.”1 The legislation incentivized providers and institutions to adopt the use of electronic health records that provided advantages, such as increased availability and transferability of information and legibility.2 However, like most technology, medical software has exponentially grown in capability and application. While not all systems are equal, the increased adoption of healthcare information technology has been universal, and most advanced health care teams now use clinical decision support (CDS) systems. Broadly defined, CDS systems use technology, clinical evidence, and real-time patient data to support health care team decisions. The system integrates relevant patient information from multiple sources of patient data and provides real-time outputs to the clinical team. Integration of CDS with the clinical workflow can improve the quality and safety of patient care. A CDS system can also incorporate predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms to help providers identify potential risks and make more informed decisions. They can provide alerts, reminders, and suggestions for clinical decision-making, such as recommended medications, dosages, or diagnostic tests. In fact, multiple studies have shown...