Early warning system to detect clinical deterioration in patients

DUBAI — A new early warning mechanism will assist UAE clinicians in detecting early signs of clinical/physiological deterioration in their patients.

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) launched the electronic Early Warning Scores (EWS) project to assist clinicians in taking evidence-based decisions based on early warning scores for different age and obstetric groups.

The project scores have been classified into Paediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS), Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), and Modified Early Obstetric Warning Score (MEOWS). These standardised risk assessment tools will help identify patients showing signs and symptoms of clinical instability before their conditions deteriorate. They are based on physiological indicators and routine observations and detect changes in a patient’s physiology, which will be reflected in the score. The score will be a clear indication if the patient is improving or deteriorating. The higher the score, the more intervention and support required.

Awadh Seghayer Al Ketbi, assistant undersecretary for support services, said the ministry’s adoption of the electronic health information system ‘Wareed Project’ is part of its strategy to develop effective health info systems.

Mubaraka Ibrahim, director of MoHAP’s health information systems, said the ministry’s facilities previously used paper-based early warning scoring tools. Nurses had to document vital signs in electronic medical records (EMRs). Users then calculated the score for each criterion based on the reference grid manually. The clinicians were notified verbally and the data documented as a free text note in EMR. Paper documentation was then filed.

Ibrahim said the adoption of electronic EWS will help reduce intensive care mortality, hospital mortality, unplanned admissions and readmissions to ICU and delayed discharges.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com