Fewer errors and less manual work by linking measuring equipment directly to patient records

To make rehabilitation processes run even more smoothly, the Revant Rehabilitation Centre linked the measurement data from three medical devices to its electronic patient record HiX last year. The ergometry bikes, blood gas analysis, sleep monitoring equipment and blood pressure monitors have now also been linked to HiX via Cloverleaf. Revant’s senior functional manager, Monique van Breemen, talks about the connection between these four systems.

As a centre of expertise in medical rehabilitation, Revant focuses on providing suitable rehabilitation programmes for a range of target groups. Using various medical equipment, the rehabilitation centre measures the patients’ progress. ‘By linking these devices directly to our electronic patient record HiX, we spend less time manually entering data’, says Monique.

Translation

An employee of Revant operates the blood pressure monitor, which is connected to HiX via Cloverleaf.

After successfully linking the first devices, the ergometry bikes, blood gas analysis, sleep monitoring equipment and blood pressure monitors have now also been integrated. The connection is made using Cloverleaf, a software solution that enables different systems to ‘talk’ to each other, allowing information to be translated from one system to another.
‘Each connection was a task in itself,’ says Monique. ‘With one device it turned out to be technically impossible to automatically add an order number to the PDF files, which is required to register the data in HiX. We had a “translation” made through Cloverleaf. This means that Cloverleaf automatically generates the order number when the patient’s data is retrieved, as this cannot be done from the device itself, allowing us to process the data correctly and safely in the patient record.’

Suitable solutions

‘Thanks to Enovation’s support, we were able to implement a suitable solution for each device,’ Monique says. ‘The collaboration was smooth and accessible, with extensive expertise and prompt responses from Enovation. This meant we could quickly get further assistance if we had any questions. The benefits of the links are also immediately evident in practice. Blood pressure measurements are now automatically recorded in HiX, including the full Early Warning Score (EWS), giving nurses a quicker insight into the urgency of a situation.’

The time savings are also substantial with blood gas analysis. Previously, as many as fifteen measurements had to be entered manually. This process is now automated. ‘It saves a great deal of time and prevents errors that occur when retyping or, for example, accidentally linking data to the wrong patient’, says Monique. Initial feedback from colleagues has been enthusiastic: the data appears in the record immediately and without errors.

Time savings and improved communication

Thanks to the integration with HiX, it is possible to share the results of the cycling tests directly with colleagues and rehabilitation patients.

One of the Revant colleagues who is pleased with the connection of the medical equipment to HiX is Fonny de Kanter, who works as a physiotherapist at Revant Revalidation Centre Lindenhof in Goes. ‘We have been using the Lode bikes with the accompanying software during cardiac rehabilitation for almost a year now,’ says Fonny. ‘This enables us to automate cycling training and monitor patients during the session via the heart rate monitor module. The graphs and analyses provide insight into the heart’s response to exercise and the progress of the treatment. The link allows us to share this information directly via HiX, which improves communication with colleagues and with the rehabilitation patient.’

‘Previously, we had to upload PDFs manually,’ Fonny continues. ‘This now happens automatically, which saves a considerable amount of time. In the future, we want to further expand the link with a saturation module, so that pulmonary rehabilitation can also benefit from it.’

Future of rehabilitation care

The positive experiences with linking the medical equipment with the patient record aligns closely with Revant’s broader vision. According to Monique van Breemen, technology will continue to profoundly influence rehabilitation care in the coming years. ‘It’s going incredibly fast. We are already looking at how we can use AI in a safe and responsible way, for example with Chipsoft for voice-controlled consultations. I also see home measuring devices as an important development, where measurement data is sent directly to HiX. I would therefore recommend that all other rehabilitation centres link medical equipment to the patient record via Cloverleaf. It saves a lot of time, provides management advantages and increases safety because data is entered automatically and correctly into the patient record.’