Hospital tests new patient sensor system

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick used the unveiling of a new rapid response motion sensor system at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham to tout the state's success in marrying technology advances, improved patient care, and job creation. The EarlySense system—developed by an Israeli company currently establishing a United States headquarters in Waltham—uses motion sensors placed underneath hospital beds to track patients' vital signs, such as heart and respiratory rates, and provide caregivers with data-driven graphs and charts to enhance preventative care. The motion-sensing system is an upgrade from the current vital sign checking model, with nurse visitations every four hours, and will save money by catching more medical problems and keeping patients out of intensive care units, which require a higher operating cost, health officials said. "The things we're celebrating today are not only a more successful and more complete and more affordable system, but also how to bring entrepreneurs [here] whose business is helping us get to that destination," Patrick said. "This is part of a combined, comprehensive strategy."