New telemetry monitoring order

Peaks recently implemented a new process for cardiac telemetry monitoring that included an indication and duration for telemetry monitoring.

In a separate project for tracking Saint Joseph telemetry boxes, clinicians noticed the new order for telemetry monitoring asks, “can the patient be off telemetry for activities (including therapy, ambulation, off-unit procedures, showers, bathroom)?”

The new question that requires physician consideration is at the bottom of this screen grab.

Currently at SJH, we always keep patients on telemetry to deliver therapy, to use the restroom and for ambulation. However, for showering and some procedures or transport, many patients are routinely taken off telemetry, using guidance from the SJH policy supplement: Transfer and Transport of Patients on Cardiac Telemetry Monitoring.

To avoid duplicate workflows and increased calls, we ask the physician team to please be mindful when choosing yes or no to this question. Currently, many patients on the med-surg and telemetry units are stable and can come off telemetry for showers and off-unit procedures.

If ‘No’ is selected, the primary RN will contact the physician team to request a change for showering or off-unit procedures when it seems medically appropriate.

Physicians with questions can contact Jason Johnson, DO, General Surgery, at jason.johnson1@imail.org.