Digital Irish National Early Warning System (INEWS)

Vital Signs Automation/Digital Irish National Early Warning System (INEWS)

This is a multidisciplinary patient centric project, coming under the auspices of the following:

• Clinical Innovation
• Acute Hospital Delivery
• National Medical Devices
• Deteriorating Patient Improvement Programme

The project is to migrate from an INEWS paper-based system to a digital INEWS ‘track and trigger’ tool.

The KEWS 300 platform allows the clinical staff at the nurse’s station to have sight of all patient INEWS scores and vital-signs on a single screen. The status of each patient (based on score) is presented in an easy to assess, colour-coded format with time remaining until next INEWS recording clearly visible on screen.

To assist clinical staff in the detection of, and response to, the clinically deteriorating adult in-patient and identify acutely unwell patients in acute hospitals leading to improved patient outcomes. Concurrently this system will allow for daily, weekly or monthly hospital and national reports on advanced oxygenation support utilisation to be generated from the point of care.

The collation of advanced oxygen therapy data reports at ward level together with the anticipated process improvements from Digital INEWSv2 track and trigger data will assist with predicated ICU presentations, quantify patient acuity and identify and match medical equipment needs.

The software platform is to be installed on a touchscreen tablet with each of the vital-sign monitors used. The system will be interfaced with IPMS in each hospital and also requires the Client software to be interfaced with the vital-sign monitors at point of care.

Deteriorating Patient Improvement Programme (DPIP)

The Deteriorating Patient Improvement Programme Partnership (DPIPP) was established in 2018 and works in collaboration with the HSE National Quality and Patient Safety, Improvement Team, and key National Clinical Programmes e.g. National Critical Care Programme, Sepsis Programme.

If you would like more information on any of the above content, please contact:

Niamh O’Leary – Project Manager 

Ronnie McDermott – National Medical Devices