Virtual wards: A glimpse into the future?

Earlier this month a significant digital initiative was announced for cardiology and respiratory patients in St Vincent’s University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick. A ‘virtual ward’ service is being introduced for these patient cohorts in the two hospitals.

The wards are intended to allow patients to receive hospital-level care at home safely and in familiar surroundings. The aim is to speed up recovery while freeing up hospital beds for patients most in need. In a health service with a capacity deficit, the attraction of such an initiative is obvious.

Patients, through the virtual ward, are cared for by a multidisciplinary team who can provide a range of tests and treatments. This could include blood tests, prescribing medication or administering fluids through an intravenous drip. Patients are reviewed regularly by the clinical team and the ‘ward round’ may involve a home visit or take place through video technology.

Many virtual wards use technology such as apps, wearables, and other medical devices. These allow clinical staff to check in and monitor the person’s recovery.

On the launch of the initiative, Prof Deirdre McNamara, HSE Director of Strategic Programmes, said: “Virtual wards herald a new and exciting phase of the digital transformation of our health service. They support the delivery of care in the right place, at the right time. The service will start this month and will be scaled up, supporting increased in-hospital bed capacity, which will reduce pressure on the health system over time.”

Prior to the launch, the Department of Health published the Digital for Care: A Digital Health Framework. The HSE Digital Health Roadmap is expected to be approved in the coming weeks. These documents are part of the health service’s plans to better utilise digital technology, with virtual wards being just one component of this broader push.

According to the Department of Health, the framework “sets out a clear ambition for the future”.

“Such a future harnesses the power of data, digital technology and innovation, to widen access to health and social care services, provide improved affordable and equitable care, better patient safety, and greater productivity,” the Department states.

“It presents a vision for how we will use data and digital technology to improve our population’s health and wellbeing, enabled by seamless, safe, secure, and connected digital health systems. Using data and digital, we see a future where our population, our patients and those who care for them are empowered and better informed about their care.”

The Irish health service does not have a great track record when it comes to innovation. Our main feature in this edition of the Medical Independent reveals how University of Limerick Hospital Group had initial concerns about the demands involved in establishing its virtual ward. However, the initiative is set to be operationalised in line with the original timelines. It will be worth keeping an eye on how the virtual ward programme evolves as it could have a big impact on how patients are treated and monitored, both now and in the future.