Virtual AF wards cut hospital stays by four days

Objective

To safely discharge diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients earlier and free up much-needed hospital bed capacity.

Approach

At West Middlesex and Chelsea and Westminster Hospitals, existing atrial fibrillation care pathways were enhanced with an early-supported-discharge pathway. It combines FibriCheck’s remote monitoring with a digital interface linked to the patient’s electronic health record. The virtual ward is overseen by trained specialist nurses, who escalate to the cardiology team when needed.

Outcome

The virtual AF ward cuts the average length of stay by four days per patient, which equals roughly £1,000 in direct cost savings per patient and more available beds. Patient engagement with remote monitoring was 95%, and the model’s safety, feasibility and clinical utility were demonstrated. It can be established and scaled at relatively low cost, and remains widely applicable across NHS hospital trusts.