European Care Homes Track Patient Rolling in Beds

An IOT-based solution from digital Angel, using software and Dell connectivity, allows facilities such as Care home Zorgspectrum to identify which patients need to be rolled over, in order to prevent bed sores.

Care home, located in Netherlands, is one of several European care facilities deploying an Internet of Things (IOT) system that detects the well-being of patients by capturing sensor-based data from patient mattresses. The solution makes that data available to management and health-care providers, while also offering the possibility of connecting to a company's existing software-based data.

The system, which automatically tracks when patients leave their beds, as well as how often and when they turn over, is provided by digital Angel and is built with the support of its local partner, Dutch platform integrator. Dell an independent unit of Dell Technologies, accesses digital Angel’s data through its cloud-based software platform. The Boom platform is being used as an integration-platform-as-a-service. Digital Angel’s solution, powered by boom’s technology, was piloted last year until around September, and has since been permanently deployed at Care home Zorgspectrum.

For long-term patients isolated in beds, care providers need to keep an eye on their movements during the nights. To avoid developing bed sores, patients need to roll at regular intervals, such as every few hours. Without the IOT system, care providers cannot be sure whether or not a patient has rolled over, and thus often go through the process of rolling each patient over every three hours, whether or not they need to be moved, so as to ensure that they don't develop lesions.