Visensia for early detection of deteriorating vital signs in adults in hospital

NICE has developed a medtech innovation briefing (MIB) on Visensia for early detection of deteriorating vital signs in adults in hospital.

Visensia is physiological monitoring software that collates and analyses data from bedside monitors on 5 vital signs to produce a single patient health status score. This is used for early identification of deterioration that might lead to cardiac or respiratory arrest. One prospective, single-centre, before-and-after study found that patients monitored with Visensia had a statistically significantly shorter average duration of any cardio-respiratory instability and fewer episodes of serious and persistent instability, although changes in patient management may have influenced these findings. The Visensia software requires existing physiological monitors to provide data and costs £1950 for a 1-bed perpetuity licence; individual hospital systems are priced according to size and include installation and configuration charges.

Medtech innovation briefings provide a description of the medical technology, including its likely place in therapy, the costs of using the technology and a critical review of the strengths and weaknesses of the relevant published evidence.

Their purpose is to provide objective information on device and diagnostic technologies to aid local decision-making by clinicians, managers and procurement professionals. By making this information available, NICE helps to avoid the need for NHS organisations to produce similar information for local use.

Medtech innovation briefings are not NICE guidance. They differ in format, contain no judgement on the value of the technology and do not constitute a guidance recommendation.

MIBs are commissioned by NHS England and produced in support of the NHS 5 Year Forward View, specifically as one of a number of steps which will accelerate innovation in new treatments and diagnostics.