Role of Wireless Monitoring in Internal Medicine Unit for Ongoing Assessment of Acute Instable Patients
Role of Wireless Monitoring in Internal Medicine Unit for Ongoing Assessment of Acute Instable Patients
The present study was planned to provide clinical data on the impact of acute and critically
 ill patients in Internal Medicine Unit activity and economic data enabling to quantify the
 relative cost of acute patients management during ordinary hospitalization. In these
 critically ill complex patients the vital parameters continuous monitoring could help in
 improving the quality of care. Therefore, the study will check how the wireless continuous
 monitoring in acute selected patients is able to reduce major complications improving the
 patient's outcome and the quality of care and reducing costs compared to traditional
 monitoring performed at regular intervals by the nursing staff.
In recent years, Internal Medicine Ward, due to epidemiological transition, takes in charge
 more and more an heterogeneous group of patients with serious diseases both acute and chronic
 and elderly, frail, poly-pathological patients, requiring intensive care. Hospitalization of
 medical patients in large wards without prior stratification of severity, complexity, level
 of dependence, comorbidities and without a proper assessment of the risk of rapid clinical
 deterioration, can lead to suboptimal treatment, resulting in prolonged hospital stay and
 increased care costs. Continuous monitoring of vital parameters may allow early detection of
 deterioration in acute patients not admitted in intensive care such as those hospitalized in
 Internal Medicine Unit, allowing the staff to immediately address the patient's needs
 achieving promptly the most appropriate care. As there are no studies comparing the use of
 wireless monitoring systems and traditional vital signs monitoring in critical acute
 patients, the study was designed to highlight the benefits of continuous monitoring of vital
 signs in the first 72 hours hospitalization to reduce the major complications and improving
 outcome. The study also aims to assess the reduction in hospitalization costs using as proxy
 the decrease in average length of stay.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  all critical patients (with need for continuous monitoring and high technology) with
 MEWS ≥3 and / or NEWS≥5 at admission

 -  all patients with glycemic decompensation regardless of MEWS and NEWS.

 -  all critical patients severe fluid and electrolyte imbalance, regardless of MEWS and
 NEWS.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  MEWS <3 and or NEWS <5

 -  Lack of informed consent

 -  Inability to understand and want