Continuous smartwatch monitoring shown to safely support post-surgical care, reducing disruptions for patients and easing nursing time for direct patient care

/PRNewswire/ -- The National University Hospital (NUH) plans to broaden wearable technology adoption following a successful pilot that showed continuous smartwatch monitoring can detect vital sign changes up to two hours sooner than standard manual checks. This approach supports faster clinical responses, minimizes interruptions for recovering patients, and frees nurses to focus on other care duties requiring their expertise.

After the one-month pilot ended in June, NUH aims to shift up to 10 percent of appropriate inpatient vital signs monitoring to wearable devices within the next year. The effort aligns with the hospital's push to use digital tools for better safety, patient comfort, and efficient care.

The pilot was directed by the NUH Department of Surgery alongside ward nurses, operations personnel, and researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. Key team members were A/Prof Tan Ker Kan, Senior Consultant, Dr Lee Kai Yin, Consultant, and Dr Lim Tian Zhi, Associate Consultant.

Patients used smartwatches with Health Sciences Authority-approved features to track blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood oxygen levels continuously.

Nurses kept up regular bedside checks by noting smartwatch data at standard intervals of one or four hours. Any unusual readings prompted confirmation with conventional equipment and escalation per usual protocols.

Earlier detection while maintaining patient safety

The trial confirmed that wearable monitoring can safely enhance post-surgical care and give clinicians earlier insight into possible changes in patient condition.

Key findings included:

No critical clinical events were missed during smartwatch monitoring.
Abnormal vital signs were identified up to two hours earlier than routine nursing observations.
All abnormal readings triggered existing clinical escalation protocols and were reviewed promptly by nurses.
Patients experienced fewer disruptions, especially from routine overnight observations.
Nurses reported reduced time spent on routine and repetitive monitoring tasks.

During the pilot, the smartwatch identified the following earlier than routine nursing observations:

14 episodes of low systolic blood pressure (below 100 mmHg).
Two episodes of high systolic blood pressure (above 160 mmHg).
One episode of low pulse rate (below 50 beats per minute); and
One episode of reduced blood oxygen saturation (below 95%).

All patients received prompt nurse review under existing protocols, and none of the episodes led to further deterioration.

Helping patients recover more comfortably

The pilot also aimed to enhance recovery by cutting unnecessary interruptions, especially overnight.

Patients in both groups woke about three times per night on average. Yet only seven percent of the 30 smartwatch patients (two individuals) linked awakenings to vital signs checks, versus 17 percent of the 30 conventional patients (five individuals).

Participant Mdm Ho Mei Guat noted: "I found the smartwatch comfortable to wear and easy to get used to. It allowed me to rest well during my stay in hospital, and it was reassuring to know that my vital signs were being monitored continuously as I recovered."

Giving nurses more time to focus on patient care

Routine vital signs checks rank among the most common nursing duties. Each check currently takes about two minutes with manual recording.

NUH intends to link smartwatch data straight into its EPIC electronic medical record system for automatic logging. This should cut check time to roughly 40 seconds per patient.

Nurse Manager Lim Pooi See said: "Routine vital signs monitoring is a critical component of post-surgical care, but it can also be time-consuming and repetitive. Wearable technology enables continuous patient monitoring while reducing unnecessary interruptions. By replacing conventional wired monitoring with a wearable device, patients can move more comfortably with fewer attachments, supporting early mobilisation during recovery. At the same time, nurses can devote more time to patients who require closer observation and more direct, personalised care."

A step towards the future of inpatient care

Associate Professor Asim Shabbir, Head and Senior Consultant in the Department of Surgery at NUH, said, "This pilot shows how technology can strengthen, rather than replace, clinical care. By automating vital signs monitoring, we can identify changes in patients' conditions earlier, giving clinicians greater visibility of their recovery without having to wait for the next scheduled observations.

At the same time, patients can rest without being woken for vital signs checks, while nurses have more time to focus on direct patient care instead of routine tasks."

"The encouraging results have given us confidence to explore wider implementation across suitable patient groups. As we expand the programme, patient safety will remain our top priority, and we will continue to evaluate the clinical context and suitability of the technology in different care settings, where it can deliver the greatest benefits."

The pilot marks the first step in NUH's broader efforts to integrate wearable technology into inpatient care. As the programme expands, the hospital will continue evaluating how the technology can be safely introduced for other suitable patient groups to improve both patient experience and support more efficient care delivery.

About the National University Hospital (NUH)

The National University Hospital (NUH) is Singapore's university hospital. While the hospital at Kent Ridge first received its patients on 24 June 1985, our legacy started from 1905, the date of the founding of what is today the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. NUH is the principal teaching hospital of the medical school.

Our unique identity as a university hospital is a key attraction for healthcare professionals who aspire to do more than practise tertiary medical care. We offer an environment where research and teaching are an integral part of medicine and continue to shape medicine and transform care for the community we care for.

We are an academic medical centre with over 1,200 beds, serving more than one million patients a year with over 50 medical, surgical and dental specialties. NUH is the only public and not-for-profit hospital in Singapore to provide trusted care for adults, women and children under one roof, including the only paediatric kidney and liver transplant programme in the country.

The NUH is a key member of the National University Health System (NUHS), one of three public healthcare clusters in Singapore. For more information, visit www.nuh.com.sg

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SOURCE National University Hospital (NUH)