Enabling Smarter Virtual Wards

Digital technologies, including remote patient monitoring devices and point-of-care tests, are essential to the operation of virtual wards. Remote patient monitoring, including the use of wearables, sensors and mobile apps, enables the routine collection of physiological parameters including information on heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO₂), blood pressure, and skin temperature. Many remote monitoring platforms can automatically alert clinical teams when physiological parameters fall outside predefined thresholds, enabling assessment and intervention where appropriate.

Point-of-care testing complements remote monitoring by providing rapid diagnostic information in the patient's home. Blood-based tests can be used to assess kidney function, glucose levels and other biomarkers, helping clinicians evaluate disease progression, guide treatment decisions and determine whether escalation of care is required. As results are available within minutes and can be integrated into electronic health records, they support timely clinical decision-making without requiring the patient to visit a hospital.

Towards Proactive Respiratory Care

Acute exacerbations of COPD and asthma are among the leading causes of emergency hospital admissions in the UK [5]. Evidence suggests that physiological changes, including increasing respiratory rate and heart rate alongside declining peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂), may occur several days before the onset of respiratory exacerbations [6]. Continuous remote monitoring within virtual wards therefore offers an opportunity to detect deterioration early and initiate treatment before an exacerbation becomes severe.

Therefore, integrating remote monitoring technologies into virtual ward pathways can help support a more proactive approach to respiratory care, helping multidisciplinary teams make informed clinical decisions while enabling patients to remain safely at home wherever appropriate. While evidence supporting the ability of virtual wards to improve clinical outcomes in COPD is currently limited, there is evidence to suggest that it is as safe as inpatient care for appropriately selected patients [7].

As the use of virtual wards continues to expand and evolve, combining remote physiological monitoring with rapid point-of-care diagnostics has the potential to shift respiratory care from reactive management towards earlier identification of deterioration and more personalised intervention. This could help improve patient outcomes while also supporting more efficient use of NHS resources.