BlueBox - a complete code blue data recorder

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant andquot Code blue andquot the term used in hospitals to call for an immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR signals dire emergencies where medical errors can occur and lives can be lost Reviewing CPR performance of the code blue team is a cornerstone for improving outcomes Thorough and accurate recording of code blue events enable detailed reviews to promote quality improvement and patient safety However currently used handwritten records on andquot code sheetsandquot are subject to human errors and lack details for measuring key quality indicators Here we will develop an electronic device for complete recording of code blue events We call this device the andquot BlueBoxandquot The BlueBox is a small patch to be placed on the chest when the resuscitation begins It will capture all code blue events vital signs cardiac rhythms verbal orders and their execution chest compressions cardioversion defibrillation procedures medications and labs Our goal for the BlueBox is to support staff training and hospital quality improvement thus enhance the safety of patients undergoing CPR We have specific aims complete the engineering development of the BlueBox device implement the software user interface UI for the andquot electronic code sheetandquot and validate the BlueBox system in code blue simulations The BlueBox device includes multiple sensors embedded on a micro electronics platform We will integrate all sensors ECGs accelerometry temperature contact microphone and voice recorder We will prepare the firmware to enable simultaneous recording of all data with time stamps The enclosure will be designed to withstand pressures from chest compressions and voltages from cardioversion and defibrillation We will develop an andquot electronic code sheetandquot UI to display the code blue events An app will be developed for the iOS iPads The app will retrieve data from the BlueBox via Bluetooth Low Energy BLE then display code blue events chronologically with time stamps The UI will enable reviews of all recordings voice playbacks zooms to sec intervals user annotations and analysis of key CPR quality indicators The user can export the electronic code sheet as a portable document format pdf file for printing a conventional paper medical record or uploading to hospital electronic medical records EMRs For BlueBox validation we will test the system in andquot mock codeandquot sessions held in the Harbor UCLA Simulation Center Voice recordings from BlueBox will be compared to video recordings We will also test the BlueBox device on male pigs in CPRs conducted by a person code blue team We will troubleshoot and improve the BlueBox system until andgt accuracy and not false indicators are achieved The project is significant because it is expected to improve medical practice and patient safety in the hospital It represents a novel and innovative way of recording and analyzing the critical data from code blue resuscitations to support staff training and quality improvement

PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Debriefings and detailed reviews of the performance of the andquot code blue teamandquot in cardiopulmonary resuscitation CPR can improve quality of care and patient outcomes We will develop an electronic device the BlueBox for recording all CPR events to enable full displays of code blue resuscitations The device will support medical training and quality improvement in code blue situations so that the safety of patients undergoing CPR in hospitals can be improved