Common Cause Special Cause Vital Signs Charts

This case is a simulation. It teaches the state of the art in model based vital signs charting. It changes the way that charts are used, viewed and interpreted. VMH is a large hospital. Traditional monitors are currently used to display the patient vital signs of pulse and oxygen saturation. These monitors help practitioners identify when a vital sign falls outside a specified one-size-fits-all range. Traditional charting is labor intensive, receiving low priority relative to immediate patient needs. This makes accuracy and timeliness very difficult. This case shows how to solve this problem by using a new methodology described in U.S. Patent 6897773 "Computer-powered wireless ultra-intelligent real-time monitor (CWURM)". The methodology is implemented in a monitor named MyPulse (free educational software is available). Vital signs are separated into common cause (internal biological effect) and special cause (external environmental effect) charts. Also, the control limits are customized based on 1) absolute standards dependent on patient age group and sex, and 2) standard deviations from the mean established for each individual patient. The result is accurate advanced notification of unusual numbers and patterns, in real time, by color graphics, sound, print/caller ID phone alert, etc., to local and/or remote locations