In the bustling environment of a hospital ward, doctors face a constant challenge: balancing the need for quick access to critical patient data with the desire to provide personalized, attentive care. Often, they find themselves spending more time looking at charts, logging into computers, and deciphering handwritten notes than truly connecting with their patients. This administrative burden can disrupt the flow of patient interactions and take valuable time away from what matters most: building rapport, understanding individual needs, and delivering truly personalized care. WICOAR HealthVision Patient Ward (PW) offers a solution: empowering doctors with instant, hands-free access to vital information through the innovative use of smart glasses.
A New Vision for Patient Rounds:
We aim for a vision where doctors walking into a patient’s room, smart glasses worn on their nose. As they approach the bedside, the patient’s vital signs, latest lab results, and relevant medical history automatically appear in their field of vision. No need to log into a computer, fumble with a tablet, or interrupt the patient interaction to access crucial information.
This is the reality enabled by WICOAR HealthVision PW. By seamlessly integrating with hospital information systems, these smart glasses provide doctors with a hands-free, heads-up display of essential patient data, right at the point of care.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Hands-Free Data Retrieval: Doctors can access electronic health records, lab results, imaging studies, and other critical information without interrupting their workflow or patient interaction. This allows for more focused attention and personalised care.
- Real-time Visualisation: HealthVision PW overlays key patient data onto the doctor’s field of vision, enhancing situational awareness and facilitating informed decision-making. Imagine seeing a patient’s current medication list or recent X-ray results while engaging in conversation.
- Improved Efficiency: By eliminating the need to log into computers or search for information, HealthVision PW streamlines patient rounds and frees up valuable time for doctors to focus on what matters most: patient care.
- Enhanced Patient Interaction: With less time spent on administrative tasks, doctors can dedicate more time to interacting with patients, building rapport, and providing personalised care.
- Reduced Risk of Errors: Instant access to accurate, up-to-date information can help reduce the risk of medical errors and improve patient safety.
- Easy-access patient identification: patient data can be accessed safely and easily by doctors and nurses by QR code or barcode. In the future, it is possible to access using face recognition as well.
How HealthVision PW Works:
HealthVision PW utilises advanced augmented reality (AR) technology to overlay digital information onto the real world. The smart glasses connect wirelessly to the hospital’s network and securely access patient data from electronic health records (EHRs) and other systems. Doctors can navigate through information using voice commands or simple hand gestures, keeping their focus on the patient.
Transforming Patient Care:
WICOAR HealthVision PW is transforming the way doctors interact with patients and make decisions at the point of care. By providing instant, hands-free access to critical information, it empowers healthcare professionals to:
- Make faster, more informed decisions: Access to real-time data enables quick and accurate assessments, leading to timely interventions and improved patient outcomes.
- Provide more personalised care: With more time for patient interaction, doctors can better understand individual needs and preferences, fostering stronger relationships and improving patient satisfaction.
- Enhance efficiency and productivity: Streamlined workflows and reduced administrative burden allow doctors to see more patients and dedicate more time to delivering quality care.
The Future of Point-of-Care Technology:
WICOAR HealthVision PW represents a significant advancement in point-of-care technology. By seamlessly integrating digital information into the doctor’s workflow, it empowers them to provide more efficient, effective, and personalised care. As healthcare continues to evolve, solutions like HealthVision PW will play a crucial role in shaping the future of patient care.
About Hola 5G Oulu:
Hola 5G Oulu is a pioneering initiative led by Boldyn Networks, in collaboration with WICOAR Technologies, Oulu University Hospital, Pohde and the University of Oulu. The project aims to leverage 5G technology and wearable solutions to enhance patient care, improve efficiency, and empower healthcare professionals. See more about the project here.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.