Methodist South Hospital is the first hospital in Tennessee to use a new heart monitoring device to efficiently care for its cardiology patients at their bedsides. The device is not only more comfortable for patients, but it can potentially save their lives. The product is setting new standards in the area of healthcare telemetry and proves beneficial to nurses, patients, and the environment.

Telemetry is a technology that allows the remote measurement and reporting of patient vital signs information through the use of a wireless data transfer mechanism.

Cardiac patients who have experienced arrhythmia and other abnormal heart activity must be continuously monitored. Previously, telemetry patients were monitored by staff remotely.

This new patient monitoring system surpasses the previous telemetry system by allowing both local and remote monitoring, which allows for patient mobility.

“The new device allows nurses to see rhythms at the patient bedside without having to add additional equipment,” stated Latarsha Triplett, Methodist South clinical director progressive cardiology. “It also allows changes in rhythms to be noted without the delay that existed with previous systems.”

Because the new Dräger Infinity® M300 patient-worn monitor has built-in display and alarming, there is less delay in responding to a patient event. This faster intervention can help save lives.

The monitor is also more comfortable for patients. “I can lay the device on my side instead of having it directly on my chest like the previous system,” stated Methodist South cardiac patient Fannie Watkins. “By moving the monitor to my side, I have the freedom to find comfortable positions while receiving bedside care.”

The new device also supports sustainability practices because it runs on rechargeable batteries that can be charged at the bedside or through a multi-charging system. This makes it easy to keep the device charged at all times and reduces the amount of battery waste. The previous telemetry system was using over a 1,000 batteries a month. 

“I am impressed with the new device because it increases patient safety and promotes Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare sustainability efforts,” stated Gail Taylor, Methodist South administrative director of clinical operations. “We were using a huge amount of batteries with our previous system and these batteries were getting tossed in dump sites.”

“Dräger is fortunate to have forward-thinking partners like Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare System who look for innovative, cost effective technologies to help improve clinical workflow and patient safety”, says Steve Menet, Director, Enterprise Patient Monitoring and IT for Dräger Medical, USA. “The Infinity M300's use of an on-board color display, on-board alarm management capabilities and rechargeable battery set it apart from traditional telemetry products. In addition, deployment on the hospital's industry standard WiFi network helps keep the ambulatory patient monitored throughout the hospital and provides centralized management of all patient monitoring information.”

The device was implemented in hospitals in mid-2008. Plans are under way to use the new device at other hospitals in the Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare system by the end of the year.