Nurses are the cornerstone of patient care, but too often, their time is consumed by documentation. Hunt Regional Medical Center (HRMC) in Greenville TX found a promising solution to ease nurse workload: wearable technology.
The burden of manual documentation
In many hospitals, repositioning is a time-sensitive nursing task crucial for preventing pressure injuries, especially in immobile or high-risk patients. However, while vital signs and other clinical data are automatically integrated into Electronic Health Records (EHRs), repositioning is still often logged manually…whenever nurses find time in their already busy schedules. This disconnect introduces delays, inconsistencies, and documentation gaps that can impact care.
Rethinking repositioning: a smarter approach
To address these concerns, HRMC implemented the LEAF◊ Patient Monitoring System, a wearable sensor that automatically tracks patient movement and positioning. The system not only documents repositioning in real time but also provides visual cues to staff, reinforcing timely interventions without the need for manual entry.
The hospital compared repositioning documentation before and after implementing the LEAF◊ System, analyzing patients with a minimum 12-hour stay who met one or more risk factors for pressure injury (e.g., bed immobility, Braden score <14, anticipated stay over 48 hours, or a pre-existing injury). The results were striking:1-2
- Repositioning documentation rose from 31% to 82%
- Average time between turns dropped from 6.6 hours to 2.4 hours
- For patients with a BMI over 30, intervals decreased from 9.4 to 2.5 hours
More than metrics
These findings are particularly compelling given that pressure injuries are largely preventable and costly. Consistent repositioning and accurate documentation is a core expectation under national and international guidelines, including those set by the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP).
Documentation is validation that appropriate, timely care was delivered. Incomplete records can cast doubt, particularly when outcomes are in question. This is why the LEAF◊ System’s real-time documentation capabilities are so valuable. They helps ensure that interventions like turning and repositioning are performed and reflected in the record, helping nurses meet standards and safeguard against liability.
A win for nurses (and patients)
The LEAF◊ System helped nurses gain back time and promoted more cohesive workflows. With visual cues and automated entries, staff could “bundle” care more effectively, integrating repositioning into routine patient interactions without additional administrative load. It’s a perfect example of how smart technology can support high standards of care without adding new burdens.
A small tool with a big impact
By implementing wearable sensors, Hunt Regional gave its nursing staff a tool that helps improve documentation without compromising the human connection at the heart of care. Subsequently, they discovered an important truth in healthcare today: innovation doesn’t need to be flashy to be transformative.
References
1. Collins S, Couture B, Kang MJ, et al. Quantifying and Visualizing Nursing Flowsheet Documentation Burden in Acute and Critical Care. AMIA AnnuSympProc.2018;2018:348-357.
2.LEAF◊Patient Monitoring System. Smith+Nephew, Ft. Worth, TX.
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