Nov-2017
Ground-breaking project aims to minimize complications after cardiac surgery
A ground-breaking project is underway at Hamilton Health Sciences’ Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) to address a major medical issue in Canada and around the world: too many patients develop complications after having cardiac and vascular surgery, resulting in re-admission to hospital soon after they have been discharged home.
The SMArTVIEW system uses wireless, wearable technology that monitors a patient’s vital signs in hospital after their surgery, and once they go home. If the technology detects anything unusual, the hospital is alerted. The technology aims to prevent post-surgical complications, including infections and blood clots, and reduce post-surgical emergency room visits and re-admissions to hospital. SMArTVIEW will also link patients directly with nurses at the hospital so they can receive education and support during their recovery.
“As many as eight per cent of patients will have complications after cardiac or vascular surgery,” says Dr. PJ Devereaux, cardiologist at Hamilton Health Sciences, perioperative research lead at PHRI, and co-principal investigator for SMArTVIEW. “The rate of complications post-op far exceed those in the operating room, where patients are being closely monitored and the surgical team can act quickly if problems arise.”
SMArTVIEW is one of 15 projects that received funding in the first round of Ontario’s $20-million Health Technologies Fund (HTF). The fund is administered by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) on behalf of the Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist (OCHIS), and is a part of the OCHIS mandate to strengthen Ontario’s health innovation ecosystem.
To see a video about SMarTVIEW, click here
To read the full article, click here