University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) has begun to set up virtual wards for remotely monitor atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.
It is planning to set up 100 virtual beds over nine months working with virtual wards specialist Doccla.
The scheme will enable clinicians at UHCW to collect data – including electrocardiogram activity, weight, height and symptoms – through the company’s technology integrated with AliveCor’s KardiaMobile devices.
The monitoring will cover three months pre-operation and six months after the procedure.
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate, cases of which have increased by 72% in England over the past 20 years, according a study published in The Lancet Regional Health.
Assessing concerns
The project is aimed at developing new ways to improve clinical capacity in treating the condition. It will identify concerns for clinicians to initiate early assessment and treatment as well as prioritise patients and clinical workload according to need.
Data will be collected through the daily monitoring of vital signs, weekly symptom questionnaires built into the Doccla app, and weekly weight measurements.
Professor Tarv Dhanjal, consultant electrophysiologist of cardiology at UHCW, said: “Virtual ward technology is increasingly used across the NHS and I am excited to work with Doccla on deploying the technology for atrial fibrillation patients at University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.
“Patient monitoring is so crucial to successful treatment journeys and the enhanced clinical capacity offered by virtual wards is significant.”
