US cancer unit moves to digital device linkup

A US cancer unit is switching to a medical device information system to integrate device data into the hospital's electronic medical record.

Capsule Tech, a provider of medical device information systems has announced that The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will implement the company's SmartLinx Medical Device Information System to integrate medical device data into the hospital's Epic electronic medical record.

Nearly 1,200 SmartLinx Neuron 2 mobile clinical computers will be used to integrate over 2,000 medical devices across 650 beds. This will eliminate the need for manual data entry of vital signs or other patient-specific information at the patient bedside, enhancing accurate recording of data enterprise-wide.

SmartLinx will be used to integrate to an array of different types of medical devices including patient monitors, ventilators, gas monitors and spot check monitors. In critical care departments such as the ICU and OR, MD Anderson will deploy approximately 500 Neuron 2 units, running the SmartLinx Vitals Stream application, to continuously collect and transform data from physiologic monitors and ventilators. Another 700 Neuron 2 units running the SmartLinx Chart Xpress application will be used to more effectively monitor patients in lower acuity hospital departments, such as medical surgical units. In this setting, MD Anderson will automate data collection from the vital signs monitor, enable easier bedside charting, and implement Capsule's Early Warning Scoring System (EWSS), which is designed to alert nurses/clinicians to a patient's potential deterioration.

"With the real-time recording of critical patient information directly into the medical record in a way that is accurate, succinct and timely, nurses will be empowered to focus on the quality and safety of patient care rather than the manual charting of patient vitals," says Susan Niemeier, RN, MHA Chief Nursing Officer, Capsule. "Further, by incorporating Capsule's EWSS, MD Anderson's clinicians will have the early identification and notification of potential patient deterioration in the acute care population."