Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital – Innovation in Patient Care
PARK NICOLLET METHODIST HOSPITAL
Innovation in Patient Care
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital – Innovation in Patient Care
Video Monitoring Project Summary
Park Nicollet implemented a video monitoring program for patients on a 54 bed general
medical floor in September 2012. The implementation sought to achieve the triple aim using
technology to monitor patients requiring close observation while increasing the quality of care
and decreasing cost. The unit utilized 12 closed circuit cameras to monitor patients. Success
was measured by improved patient safety outcomes, including no adverse events, and a reduction
in length of stay. Video monitoring also offered an opportunity to improve the safety of staff
members needing to care for violent patients.
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Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital – Innovation in Patient Care
Innovation in Patient Care
Patients at risk for adverse safety events are traditionally monitored using nursing
assistants or trained personnel. This care model often depletes resources for the rest of the
patient care unit. Though some patients need this type of monitoring, many can benefit from
monitoring with video technology. Research has demonstrated patient safety is not necessarily
improved when care team members are used to observe patients in the room. This is especially
true when patients are being monitored for falls and elopement.
Standard procedures were developed to utilize video monitoring for patients requiring
close observation. The only exclusion criteria was patients on suicide precautions. On the unit,
twelve closed circuit video cameras were installed in patient rooms and an unused private room
was repurposed as a central monitor station. The video monitoring station contained two large
monitors, a phone, and a call light console for communication with patients and team members.
Nursing assistants received specialized training to work in the central monitor station. All other
team members received training on the system and standard procedures. This included standard
guidelines for overhead alerts to mobilize all available resources to a patient room.
Video monitoring allowed staff to prevent patients from interfering with medical therapy,
while also allowing them to quickly mobilize nursing support for patients experiencing
symptoms such as seizures or drug and alcohol withdrawal. Furthermore, close monitoring was
no longer limited by the pool of available staff which allowed more patients to be monitored.
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Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital – Innovation in Patient Care
Outcomes
The outcomes at Park Nicollet suggest video monitoring is a safe and cost effective way
to provide close observation. Park Nicollet has placed over 3000 patients on video monitoring.
Over the course of 18 months Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital has experienced:

A decrease in length of stay for patients requiring close observation from a
baseline of 9.5 days to 7 days. The most significant decrease was noted in
patients at risk of falling or being monitored for flight or elopement risk.

The ability to provide close observation to 82% more patients utilizing less
resources.

In 2013, the average monthly savings associated with monitoring patients using
video technology instead of staff was $22,576.

No adverse patient outcomes as a result of video monitoring.
Use of video monitoring has also improved staff and patient satisfaction. For staff, video
monitoring offers a way to closely monitor patients in a way that decreases fatigue, while also
improving mobilization and response time to potentially harmful events. This has made nursing
team members feel more supported. Patient and family satisfaction is evidenced by patients and
families who now request video monitoring upon admission.
Potential Applicability
Video monitoring is an alternative method of close observation that exemplifies the triple
aim: improving health outcomes, improving the experience of patients and staff, and improving
the affordability of healthcare. Given this alignment, our hospital has decided to expand the
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Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital – Innovation in Patient Care
video monitoring program to three additional units. Video monitoring is a cost effective way of
monitoring at-risk patients in the hospital, making it applicable to most hospital settings.
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