The NIV virtual ward pathway allows patients to remain at home with their care being managed virtually, utilising mobile technology that enables the clinical team to remotely change ventilator settings and monitor compliance.
Pressures on inpatient bed capacity previously resulted in frequent delays and cancellations for these patients, and prior to establishing the virtual ward, the average wait for initiating non-invasive ventilation was 130 days. Thanks to the NIV Virtual Ward this wait has been reduced to an average of just 36 days with far fewer cancellations.
The types of patient that benefit are those with conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea, children who are waiting for spinal surgery and neuromuscular conditions such as Duchenne muscular disease. Inpatients that have been unwell, not quite back to full health, but the families are keen to continue care at home and they can now have an earlier discharge home than they would have prior to the start of this initiative.
In addition to reducing patient waits, being treated at home is also much more convenient for patients and families, reducing the financial burden that having a child in hospital places on a family and improves that patient’s hospital experience.
Children’s Nurse Specialist in Long Term Ventilation, Sharon Sloan, said:
“The virtual ward has been hugely positive. Emergency admissions including PICU have been reduced, families and colleagues are less frustrated by cancellations, the families are more in control which is improving compliance.
The team have also noticed that families appreciate that we are ringing them regularly for support, we have had no negative feedback from the families, overall patient satisfaction is much improved!”
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