VIABLE

Virtual wards are being rolled out across the NHS to allow safe home treatment of acute illnesses under hospital supervision. The kind of monitoring available on these virtual wards varies greatly with most using some combination of regular home visits and remote sensors. However, the way in which these are used is not standardised and evidence for best practice needs to be strengthened. Where remote sensors are used these often require the patient to take the measurement and report the result by phone. This can lead to the possibility of inaccurate readings being reported that can lead to unnecessary review or present a safety risk for patients. 

Automated remote vital-sign monitoring has the potential to reduce the number of home visits nurses need to carry out to perform vital-sign observations, offers the possibility to prioritise face-to-face review of those most in need and reduces the risk of self-report errors.

The VIABLE feasibility study will look at 35 patients using a remote vital-sign monitoring platform whilst admitted to the Hospital at Home virtual ward. This will include a pulse oximeter to measure blood oxygen levels and a vital-sign chest patch that will measure pulse and breathing rate.

Each patient will also be provided with a blood pressure monitor and a thermometer. Patients taking part in the study will have an acute illness (such as breathlessness or an acute infection) and will have been assigned ongoing care via the virtual ward. Participants will be asked to complete a short interview about their experiences at the end of their study period.