Handwashing Sensor Among the Technologies Supported Through Healthcare Transformation Lab

Intermountain Healthcare and several leading information technology companies have joined forces to bring transformational technologies to the patient bedside quickly and more efficiently.

Founding members Xi3 and Intel, and collaborators Dell, CenturyLink, NetApp, and Sotera Wireless joined together to participate with Intermountains Healthcare Transformation Lab. The Lab is located on the campus of Intermountains flagship hospital, Intermountain Medical Center, in Murray, Utah. Intermountain employees and collaborating organizations will jointly research, develop, and measure new ideas to improve and optimize patient care. Once innovations are appropriately studied and reviewed, the teams will work together to rapidly design, create, and test new healthcare technologies to be used at Intermountain facilities and possibly across the nation, depending on contractual and regulatory obligations.

Some of the Lab projects already underway include the following prototypes:

- Handwashing Sensor The Healthcare Transformation Lab worked collaboratively with clinicians to develop a hand hygiene sensor device that can be worn like a watch by hospital physicians, nurses, and other caregivers. It positively re-enforces proper hand hygiene to reduce infections. 

- Patient Room of the Future Advanced interactive technologies will be used to improve medical outcomes and comfort for patients. Monitoring of patients vital signsheart rate, electrocardiogram, blood pressure, oxygenation level, respiration, and temperaturewill be done without being tethered to wires. The room has the ability to be personalized to each patient, with light, sound, entertainment and internet access.

- 3D Printing of Medical Devices 3D printers are being used to produce prototypes of medical devices and equipment for testing and clinical purposes.

- Life Detector The Lab worked with clinicians to develop a life detector that alerts caregivers of changes to patients vital signs, in or out of medical facilities. It is simple, non-obtrusive and based on real-time care.

The Healthcare Transformation Lab is a new element in Intermountains pioneering role in healthcare technology. Under the direction of Marc Probst, Intermountains chief information officer, teams will work to develop innovative solutions that result in better health, better care and lower costs.

Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based nonprofit system of 22 hospitals, 185 clinics, a Medical Group with some 1,000 employed physicians, a health plans division called SelectHealth, and other health services.

Source: Intermountain Healthcare