Application of Integrated Medical Care "Cloud-Based Virtual Ward" Management Model on Postoperative Analgesia: Based on Zigbee Technology.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare acute care postoperative patients monitored by standard care to those monitored through virtual ward technology by pain team to evaluate status in real-time.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: We included 72,240 and 68,424 postoperative patients who underwent the acute pain service model between January 2021 and April 2022 and the "cloud-based virtual ward" management model between May 2022 and September 2023, respectively. Patients were administered patient-controlled intravenous analgesia after surgery, and we collected perioperative data regarding the general condition, operation type, postoperative moderate-to-severe pain, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, hoarseness, and drowsiness of the patients.

Results: The incidences of moderate-to-severe postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, hoarseness, resting pain, and activity pain were significantly reduced in the "cloud-based virtual ward" management model when compared with the acute pain service model.

Conclusions: Compared to the acute pain service model, the "cloud-based virtual ward" management model can enhance pain management satisfaction and lower the frequency of moderate-to-severe postoperative pain and adverse effects.

Clinical implications: The "cloud-based virtual ward" management model proposed in this study may improve the care of patients with acute postoperative pain. By reviewing the two pain management models for postoperative patients, we were able to compare the incidence of postoperative adverse reactions and use the standard process of the integrated medical care "cloud-based virtual ward" management model to optimize the management of postoperative patients and promote their health outcomes.