The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) has developed “smart” patient rooms that recognize doctors and nurses as they enter, and shows them on a bedside monitor relevant patient information.
At the same time, UMPC says, patients view a second monitor to learn the identity and role of each caregiver who enters the room, along with additional information, including warnings about a patient’s risk of falls or the schedule for pain medication.
Developed over the past six months by a team of clinicians and medical technologists, the system uses ultrasound tracking devices to identify the numerous caregivers whom a patient might encounter on any given day. At the same time, the system is programmed to retrieve the latest clinical information stored in UPMC’s EMRs.
The Smart Room went live in early October and is being tested in six patient rooms at the UPMC Shadyside campus, with plans to expand to a 24-bed unit at the hospital by the end of March.
