Heartbeat: Virtual ward will treat COVID-19 patients in first for West Midlands

October 30, 2020

A unique project will see confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients monitored via a virtual ward by our clinicians in the community.

Patients referred to the Monitoring You At Home (MYAH) Service via their GP or from within the Trust, will be given an oximeter, to measure their oxygen saturation levels for early signs of hypoxia.

COVID mainly affects the lungs and causes a viral pneumonia that can lead to low oxygen levels. By measuring the oxygen levels using the oximeter probe that sits on the patient’s finger, clinicians are able to identify early when a patient’s health deteriorates and can recommend corrective measures.

The programme is for patients who have suspected or confirmed COVID-19, who are not unwell enough to be admitted to hospital but need to be monitored with oximetry for 14 days. Those under MYAH will be given instructions on how to record their oxygen saturation and their pulse as well as keeping a check on general symptoms.

All clinical data will be entered into the electronic patient record on SystmOne and the team will be in contact with them daily. The MYAH Service data will be collected by NHS Digital and will contribute to the national pilot and help to inform the future development of NHS Services.

The MYAH Service comes under the umbrella of PRISMM, an integrated approach to improve the care of respiratory patients across, secondary, community and primary care.

Dr Arvind Rajasekaran, Respiratory Consultant commented: “The front line clinicians have worked tirelessly over the past six months and we are now witnessing a steady increase of COVID-19 again in the community. Our Trust is making preparations for winter and a potential increase in both COVID and flu cases. MYAH is an example of such preparedness.

“We are the only Trust in West Midlands to be part of this national pilot. The community respiratory team has developed pathways of monitoring that will allow them to identify patients who are deteriorating. Working alongside the respiratory consultants, they can arrange early treatment interventions or transfer patients to specialist care in the hospital.”

Kelly Redden-Rowley, Service Manager for Community Respiratory and Heart Failure Services, said: “Our project is unique as it is the only one to include a rehabilitation and recovery phase following the 14-day monitoring as well as wellbeing follow up calls after the patient completes a rehabilitation programme.

“There are several benefits, which include providing essential monitoring to detect deterioration and provide the appropriate treatment and support sooner. It will increase capacity within the acute setting for those with severe COVID-19, whilst also providing safe and quality care to patients at home.

“It will also optimise limited resources within the community, acute and primary care, and reduce risk to staff by limiting face-to-face contact. There will be an admission and inclusion criteria for patients, who can be referred through a number of ways via the Trust, their GP and the community. The service will operate between 8 am-8 pm, seven days a week, 365 days a year.