Montreal’s General Hospital has taken a strong step to improve patient safety. To tackle this problem, they have deployed an Artificially Intelligent Monitoring System (AIMS), developed by Lumenix. This new state-of-the-art system employs 3D infrared lasers to track people’s movements. It makes sure they’ve got handwashing down to a science. By monitoring whether users spend at least 15 seconds washing their hands at sinks, AIMS aims to reduce the incidence of hospital-associated infections (HAIs) significantly.
The implementation of AIMS arrives amid other initiatives to improve sanitation measures at the hospital. Officials are hopeful that the new technology will help reduce outbreaks by at least 30 percent. It can reduce unnecessary length of stay for patients as well.
Dr. Lucie Opatrny, a passionate advocate for the initiative, noted just how essential these advancements are. They’re crucial in educating and creating awareness on hand hygiene best practices.
“Protecting patients from preventable harm is at the heart of our mission.” – Dr. Lucie Opatrny
AIMS runs in the background, secretly tracking handwashing compliance on all floors of the hospital around the clock, 24/7. This all-in-one solution helps provide a more reliable, sustained commitment to hygienic protocols without compromising any patient privacy or confidentiality agreements. Dr. Alan Forster allayed stakeholders’ fears when it came to privacy concerns, saying,
“By introducing this technology, we are equipping our teams with another tool to reinforce best practices and deliver the safest care possible. This project also highlights how academic health centres can combine clinical expertise with technological innovation to drive meaningful transformation across our sector.”
A transformational gift from an MUHC benefactor allowed for this system’s pioneering implantation. With the aid of this support, Lumenix created advanced ceiling sensors for AIMS. Lessons learned from past installations in Ottawa have shown that health professionals are mostly not worried about the superstructure nodes. Patients are equally as uncomfortable with their existence.
“It doesn’t impact on privacy at all.”
Across the globe, hospitals are striving every day to improve patient safety and reduce infections. At Montreal General Hospital, the advent of AIMS represents a really thrilling example of how technology can complement and enhance the practice of medicine.
As hospitals globally strive to improve patient safety and reduce infection rates, the integration of AIMS at Montreal General Hospital stands as a promising example of how technology can complement traditional healthcare practices.