Economic impact of a vision-based patient monitoring system across five NHS mental health trusts.

Abstract

A vision-based patient monitoring system (VBPMS), Oxevision, has been introduced in approximately half of National Health Service (NHS) mental health trusts in England. A VBPMS is an assistive tool that supports patient safety by enabling non-contact physiological and physical monitoring. The system aims to help staff deliver safer, higher-quality and more efficient care. This paper summarises the potential health economic impact of using a VBPMS to support clinical practice in two inpatient settings: acute mental health and older adult mental health services. The economic model used a cost calculator approach to evaluate the potential impact of introducing a VBPMS into clinical practice, compared with clinical practice without a VBPMS. The analysis captured the cost differences in night-time observations, one-to-one continuous observations, self-harm incidents, and bedroom falls at night, including those resulting in A&E visits and emergency service callouts. The analysis is based on before and after studies conducted at five mental health NHS trusts, including acute mental health and older adult mental health services. Our findings indicate that the use of a VBPMS results in more efficient night-time observations and reductions in one-to-one observations, self-harm incidents, bedroom falls at night, and A&E visits and emergency service callouts from night-time falls. Substantial staff time in acute mental health and older adult mental health services is spent performing night-time observations, one-to-one observations, and managing incidents. The use of a VBPMS could lead to cost savings and a positive return on investment for NHS mental health trusts. The results do not incorporate all of the potential benefits associated with the use of a VBPMS, such as reductions in medication and length of hospital stay, plus the potential to avoid adverse events which would otherwise have a detrimental impact on a patient's quality of life.