New Wireless Vitals Solution from Welch Allyn Aligns with Population Health Management Objective

The primary objective of population health management is to keep a patient population as healthy as possible, reducing the need for more expensive tests, procedures and office visits that add additional costs to the system. In order to do this effectively, data automation is required to help providers proactively manage preventive and chronic patient care needs across the continuum. Today, Welch Allyn, a leading medical diagnostic device company, announced it has developed a new patient monitor for hospitals and physician’s offices that fully automates vital signs capture and wireless data transfer to an electronic medical record (EMR).

The Welch Allyn Connex® Spot Monitor is a new patient monitor for hospitals and physician’s offices that fully automates vital signs capture and wireless data transfer to an electronic medical record (EMR). (Photo: Business Wire)

The Welch Allyn Connex® Spot Monitor is an easy to use, full-color touchscreen monitor that provides comprehensive and accurate patient documentation using a single device. Combining leading vital signs parameter technologies with the flexibility for use across patient populations spanning neonatal through adult, the Connex Spot Monitor helps improve staff productivity and assure the accuracy of captured vital signs. This includes:

• pulse rate and blood pressure measurement utilizing 15-second SureBP® with blood pressure averaging technology for more accurate hypertension diagnosis without slowing down workflows;
• pulse oximetry for assessing respiratory conditions such as COPD and asthma via professional-grade options from Masimo®(NASDAQ: MASI), Nonin Medical®, and Covidien® (NYSE: COV); and
• fast, accurate thermometry with the SureTemp® Plus.

“Every day physicians and nurses face new and difficult challenges, but these should not include inaccuracy of patient data, a lack of access to that data, or low efficiency with collecting vitals,” said Garrison Gomez, senior director of Vital Signs and Cardiology, US & Canada, at Welch Allyn. “The Welch Allyn Connex Spot Monitor is a third generation connected vital signs device that provides an end-to-end solution to these problems. It has multiple parameters and wireless connectivity to ensure accurate vital signs measurement across an entire patient population and future-proof compatibility with leading EMRs.”

To help eliminate errors in patient data entry and simplify connectivity with physician EMR systems, the Welch Allyn Connex Spot Monitor is the first device if its kind to offer wireless connectivity designed specifically for the primary care workflow. Users can easily connect the device to any PC running the practice’s EMR system and transfer vitals directly into the patient’s chart wirelessly without the need to physically connect with any cables—helping to ensure timely, accurate entry of data into the EMR for improved patient safety and decision-making.

In addition to advanced EMR connectivity for physicians, the device also helps track and detect early signs of patient deterioration in hospital settings using the built-in Connex® Scoring App™. The app uses a point-of-care calculator structured around the hospital’s own Early Warning Score (EWS) protocols to determine the likelihood of adverse events. As vitals are taken and additional patient data is input into the device, the Connex Scoring App produces an automated, color-coded scoring result that is displayed on the device along with facility-determined intervention instructions to help providers make informed patient care decisions quickly. Scoring information can also be communicated to the EMR as well as displayed on a central nursing station if the device is a part of a Welch Allyn Connex® Clinical Surveillance System.

“The Welch Allyn Connex Spot Monitor is designed to bring modern information technology to bear on routine vitals collection and management,” added Gomez. “Designed by clinicians for clinicians, the device converges all aspects of vital signs measurement into one system, including patient data capture and now wireless transfer to an EMR. Medical charting and documentation errors are reduced thereby improving clinical decision-making and patient outcomes that can help physicians meet their population health management objectives.”

About Welch Allyn, Inc.

Since 1915 Welch Allyn has brought a unique perspective to developing diagnostic solutions by combining pragmatic knowledge with a visionary spirit of innovation and ongoing improvement. As a leading global manufacturer of physical examination instruments and accessories and EMR-connected vital signs and cardiac monitoring solutions, the company has a steadfast commitment to delivering superlative medical products, services and solutions that help healthcare professionals provide better care for their patients. Welch Allyn is headquartered in Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. (USA) and employs more than 2,600 people in 26 different countries. Visit www.welchallyn.com for more information. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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