The Smart Hospital Project at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) is making strides toward improving care for newborns in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) with innovative wireless technology. Launched in 2021, the project aims to replace traditional wired monitors with a single, wireless sensor that tracks vital signs like heart rate, breathing, and blood oxygen levels without the need for multiple electrodes. This wireless system allows for continuous, safe monitoring and reduces the risk of skin damage, infection, and movement restrictions associated with wires.
Led by Dr. Guilherme Sant’Anna and Dr. Wissam Shalish, along with Professor Robert Kearney, the project has now tested the wireless prototype on 50 patients. Early results are promising, showing that the device effectively collects accurate data while being gentle on babies’ sensitive skin. The team hopes to introduce these wireless monitors into clinical care within two years.
In addition, the project includes a smart dashboard that will give healthcare teams real-time insights into each baby’s health, as well as a parent-friendly interface to help families stay informed. Wireless monitoring could even allow some newborns to go home while still receiving professional monitoring remotely, and it gives parents more freedom to hold and bond with their babies.
The Smart Hospital Project shows promise in transforming neonatal care, allowing hospitals to improve monitoring, enhance family interactions, and potentially shorten hospital stays for newborns.
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Promising results for the Smart Hospital Project. Researchers seek to revolutionize neonatal care with innovative wireless technology. RI-MUHC News. November 1, 2024