Classification of wearables use cases in the mirror of JCAHO patient safety goals for Hospitals

Abstract

Abstract Background Patient safety can be improved by using wearable devices in hospitals. Wearable technology has the potential to provide enormous advantages to healthcare providers and patients. This study aims to explore the use cases of wearable technology in patient safety in hospitals and classify them based on the healthcare wearable taxonomy, focusing on the JCAHO patient safety goals for hospitals. Materials and Methods The search strategy was performed in Medline (PubMed), Scopus, and Google Scholar using keywords related to wearable technology and patient safety on September 4, 2021. English papers that presented the applications of wearable technology on patient safety of inpatients were included. A qualitative synthesis was performed by applying the taxonomy of wearables in healthcare and the JCAHO ( Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations ) goals for hospital patient safety. Results Of the 345 papers retrieved, ten were included in this study. The results demonstrated the usefulness of wearable devices in patient safety in hospitals. Monitoring, prevention, and assistive technology were three applications of wearables that had been more commonly reported in the studies. This research showed that the two goals of the JCAHO are the most frequently addressed through the application of wearables in hospitals. These goals include 1) identifying patient safety risks in the hospital by measuring various parameters such as vital signs and 2) reducing patient harm associated with the clinical alarm. Conclusion This study provides evidence for the potential applications of wearable technology for improving patient safety in hospitals. Considering the multiple functionalities of the wearables and their potential applications, hospitals could put wearables on their agenda for improving patient safety and quality of care.