UT Health San Antonio’s recent $472 million, 144-bed Multispecialty and Research Hospital, which opened in December 2024, is equipped with remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology in every patient room.
A New Approach to Inpatient Care
According to Edward Sankary, MD, FACP, FAMIA, ABPM-CI, VP, Chief Health Informatics Officer and Chief Value Officer and president of the Regional Physician Network ACO, RPM “is embedded in our strategy.” He stated, “Here’s the future of inpatient care and we’re going to do it right. We’re going to have all the rooms wired for it.”
How the System Works
UT Health San Antonio partnered with digital health company Nesa to develop the RPM platform. The health system integrated the in-room TV platform with its Epic EHR through MyChart Bedside, connecting it to the patient portal and a virtual care platform for nurses. Rooms were even retrofitted during construction to ensure proper camera and TV placement.
A key component of the system is a “virtual nurse” accessible via a button on the pillow speaker, providing immediate assistance. This virtual care program extends beyond nursing to include services like housekeeping, physician visits, specialist consults, and family visits.
Beyond Basic Monitoring
The platform utilizes in-room televisions for entertainment, information, and virtual care, as well as high-resolution cameras. These cameras can monitor patients when no one is present, facilitate virtual visits, and even zoom in to capture details on medication or medical devices.
The goal, Sankary says, is to create a 24/7 virtual network around patients, relieving clinicians of some burdens and offering support. Virtual nurses can assist with documentation during critical events and track patient activity like ambulation, bathroom use, and meal consumption.
Looking Ahead
The health system plans to add ambient AI to capture conversations and aid in documentation. Leadership is currently studying the platform’s impact on workflows and clinician data access. Potential benefits include reduced readmissions, better quality of care, reduced medication costs, and improved clinician retention.
The ideal, Sankary explained, is for the platform to be seamless and intuitive, becoming a normal part of the care routine. Future plans include exploring how to leverage the technology in patients’ homes and clinic visits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the virtual nurse?
The virtual nurse is accessible via a button on the pillow speaker and provides immediate assistance, offering a quicker response than waiting for a floor nurse who may be occupied.
What types of services does the virtual care program offer?
The virtual care program integrates not only nursing services but similarly housekeeping, physician visits, specialist consults and even family visits.
What is the long-term vision for this technology?
The long-term vision includes leveraging the technology at home and in clinic visits, and exploring the use of ambient AI to capture conversations and facilitate documentation.
As remote patient monitoring becomes more sophisticated, how might the roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals evolve to best utilize these new capabilities?
