Non-contact monitoring to support care in acute inpatient mental health

BACKGROUND

Averting incidents of patient self-harm is an ongoing challenge in acute inpatient mental health settings. Novel technologies that do not require continuous human visual monitoring and that maintain patient privacy may support staff in managing patient safety and intervening proactively to prevent self-harm incidents.

AIM

To assess the effect of implementing a contact-free vision-based patient monitoring and management (VBPMM) system on the rate of bedroom self-harm incidents.

METHODS

A mixed methods non-randomized controlled before-and-after evaluation was conducted over 24 months on one female and one male acute inpatient mental health ward with the VBPMM system. The rates of bedroom self-harm, and of bedroom ligatures specifically, before and after implementation were investigated using quantitative methods. Qualitative methods were also used to explore the perceived effectiveness of the system and its acceptability.

RESULTS

A -44% relative percentage change in bedroom self-harm incidents and a -48% relative percentage change in bedroom ligatures incidents were observed in the observational wards with the VBPMM system. Staff and patient responses gave insights into system acceptability and the ways in which these reductions may have been achieved.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that using the VBPMM system helped staff to reduce self-harm incidents, including ligatures, in bedrooms.

Economic evaluation of a vision-based patient monitoring and management system in an acute adult and an older adult mental health hospital in England

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patients on acute adult and older adult inpatient mental health wards are at an increased risk of accidental injuries and deliberate harm to self and others. A vision-based patient monitoring and management (VBPMM) system was designed by Oxehealth Limited to support ward staff to provide better and more efficient care and to reduce incidents. The VBPMM system uses an infrared-sensitive camera, installed in a patient's room, that works with cleared medical device software to deliver contact-free vital sign and activity insights to clinical teams. Data from two studies undertaken at an English National Health Service (NHS) mental health trust were used to inform an early economic assessment of VBPMM implementation into acute adult and older adult mental health wards.

METHODS

A cost calculator was used to compare the introduction of the VBPMM system as an adjunct to standard care versus standard care alone. Observational data were collected at two English NHS mental health trusts. Both compared data pre- and post-VBPMM implementation using a 12-month baseline period. The model estimated cost per occupied bed day, cost per patient, annual cost per average-sized ward, and total cost to NHS mental health trusts across England. Costs were modeled from an NHS perspective over a 12-month time horizon. Scenario analysis was conducted to test the uncertainty of results using statistical significance of key inputs.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

This early analysis indicated that the VBPMM system is likely to be cost saving within both settings examined, with an estimated cost saving of £272 per acute adult mental health patient and £4,591 per older adult mental health patient. This translates to £22.3 and £63.3 million, respectively, across NHS mental health trusts in England every year. VBPMM, therefore, has the potential to augment standard care, leading to positive clinical outcomes and monetary savings.

Economic evaluation of a vision-based patient monitoring and management system in addition to standard care for adults admitted to psychiatric intensive care units in England

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Treating patients in psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs) is costly for the English National Health Service (NHS), requiring significant staff time. Oxevision, a non-contact system, providing vision-based patient monitoring and management (VBPMM) has been introduced in some NHS mental health trusts which aims to help clinicians to deliver safer and more efficient care. The objective of this early economic evaluation was to explore the impact of introducing VBPMM with standard care, versus standard care alone on health and economic outcomes in PICUs across England.

METHODS

The model uses a cost calculator approach to evaluate the potential benefits of introducing VBPMM, capturing differences in observation hours and critical events such as assaults. Effectiveness data were primarily based on a 24-month observational before and after study undertaken in an NHS mental health trust using VBPMM. Outcomes reported in this study are incremental costs and reduction in clinical events presented as per occupied bed days, per patient, per average ward, and for the English NHS overall. Scenario analysis was conducted to test the uncertainty of results using statistical significance of key inputs.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The analysis indicates that introducing VBPMM may be cost saving compared with standard care alone. The biggest driver of estimated cost savings was from the potential reduction in one to one observation hours, which may have significant impact in PICUs. Limitations of the analysis include the single center data underpinning the analysis and assumptions made about transferability of clinical data to different sized wards. Scenario analysis was conducted, and the results were robust to statistically significant changes in input parameters. This study suggests that introducing VBPMM on PICUs has the potential to reduce costs and improve efficiency of resource allocation, but results should be confirmed with additional clinical study evidence.