New technology supports Lincolnshire care homes and their residents

Called Whzan Digital Health, the technology has seen care homes supplied with a digital health kit, including blood pressure monitor, pulse oximeter and a thermometer to support the NHS to provide clinical care.

Coun Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Adult Care and Health, said: “This is making a real positive difference to the care of residents in our homes at a critical time with the Covid-19 pandemic. Vulnerable residents can be closely monitored and gives staff the reassurance they can act on situations quickly if symptoms change.

“Care homes can share findings on residents with other professionals such as paramedics or GPs when needed, which can ensure a speedy response to the treatment process in an emergency. If any early deterioration in health is identified, it can be treated without the resident needing to go to hospital.”

Lincolnshire County Council has worked with partners in the health service and Lincolnshire Care Association to bring the technology into care homes. Staff have been trained on how to use the equipment and carry out the observations required. After an initial trial in two homes last year it is being rolled out to 150 care homes with more planned. Community paramedics, primary care staff and rapid response teams who regularly visit homes have also been given training.

Whzan has a range of assessment tools that are used to capture photos for clinical assessment and record findings from Bluetooth medical instruments (for example temperature, blood oxygen levels and blood pressure).

Using a tablet, it reports to the Whzan Cloud triaging portal, where the information collected can support local clinicians such as GPs and community teams to monitor the health of care home residents remotely, reducing the number of visits needed to care homes and putting residents at less risk of picking up infections.

Dr Sadie Aubrey, a GP and Joint Clinical Director for South Lincoln Healthcare Primary Care Network and GP Federation, said: “This new technology will improve the quality of service that can be provided to our care home residents. Objective clinical measurements will allow clinicians to make safer decisions regarding what care is most appropriate for this group of patients who often have complex health needs.”

Further information is available on the Whzan Digital Health website: https://www.whzan.uk/blue-box

You can watch a video of Whzan technology being demonstrated in a Lincolnshire care home.