At the Medanets User Days, our Clinical Advisor Julia Koppinen introduced a new use case, originally developed in the United Kingdom, for our app.
In England, a so-called track and trigger approach is widely used in nursing, including end-of-life care. In collaboration with our UK customer, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, we have integrated an assessment tool based on this principle into the Medanets app. During the User Days, participants explored whether a similar tool could also be applied in other countries and potentially introduced earlier in the palliative care pathway.
Systematic assessment and monitoring in end of life care
The tool functions in a similar way to Early Warning Score calculations. However, instead of measuring physiological parameters, it focuses on symptoms and the discomfort they may cause in patients receiving end-of-life care. In England, these are referred to as ‘comfort observations’.
As with Early Warning Scores, individual symptoms generate points. Based on the total score, the app recommends appropriate actions, such as specific interventions or consultation with a doctor.
Systematic monitoring and assessment bring clear benefits. They support and strengthen healthcare professionals’ expertise in the follow-up and treatment of palliative patients, while also helping to standardise care practices. The app can display Decision prompts during the documentation process, tailored to the severity of the patient’s symptoms and the organisation’s own guidelines.
From the perspective of patients and their families, structured assessment and regular monitoring enhance the sense of safety and improve the overall experience of care. Pain, discomfort or restlessness can be identified more quickly and managed without delay.
Strong interest among User Day participants
During the event, participants were asked via the Slido tool to share their views on the usefulness of this model. 85% felt that implementing a similar track and trigger approach within the Medanets app would be beneficial in their own healthcare organisation. At the same time, only 40% reported that they currently use any systematic model for monitoring patients in end-of-life care.
All respondents saw value in applying the approach earlier, during the assessment and planning phase of palliative care. Systematic monitoring carried out on a mobile device would be easy to implement, for example in a patient’s home. The app would also provide a clear overview of previous monitoring results and the progression of symptoms across different domains.
However, participants noted that the British model would need to be adapted to align with national clinical guidelines. For example, pain assessment could incorporate tools such as the PAINAD scale or the evaluation of facial expressions in situations where a patient is unable to self report. There were also requests to place greater emphasis on supporting relatives and recognising potential spiritual care needs. During the palliative phase, assessing the need for home care support would be valuable.
Would you be interested in piloting the tool?