Itamar Medical Ltd has been shortlisted for the “Most Effective Contribution to Patient Safety” award at the HSJ Partnership Awards 2021. The Health Service Journal (HSJ) awards recognize partnerships with the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS).

The judging panel comprised a diverse range of people across the NHS and wider healthcare sector. The “Safe and Efficient Sleep Apnea Diagnosis During COVID-19” project was selected based on its diligence, ambition, and the positive impact that the project has had on both practitioners and patients within the health care industry.

After a near-total shutdown of sleep disorder centers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a solution was needed for sleep apnea diagnosis to continue in a safe and efficient manner for both patients and NHS staff. Itamar Medical sought to use its PAT technology to allow for remote sleep testing outside of the hospital environment.

Itamar offered solutions to its NHS partners as alternatives to in-lab sleep testing.

  • The WatchPAT Direct program: an outsourced service by which devices are sent to patients’ home from a central depot, patients are provided training and assistance remotely. After the test, the device is collected from the patient’s home, the test report is transferred securely to the sleep center for diagnosis, and the device is thoroughly cleaned and segregated for at least 72 hours before it is despatched again, to another patient.
  • · The WatchPAT ONE device: a fully disposable HSAT device that is sent directly to patients in a sealed box to be used at home and does not need to be returned to the hospital after use, eliminating the risk of infection for patients and physicians. This device is operated via the patient’s smartphone, and in the morning the test results are transmitted securely directly to the sleep center for diagnosis.

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“We are honored to have been shortlisted for the Most Effective Contribution to Patient Safety award by the HSJ among so many other incredible nominees, recognizing our efforts to offer safer, more viable HSAT solutions for our NHS partners to ensure patient safety during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” says Gilad Glick, CEO at Itamar Medical, in a release. “We are passionate about making sleep apnea testing and diagnosis more accessible, cost effective, and efficient to deliver improved outcomes for patients, especially during such difficult times. This achievement will serve to further our teams’ dedication and commitment to the important work we are doing in collaboration with our NHS partners.”

HSJ editor Alastair McLellan, says in a release, “We would like to congratulate Itamar Medical on being nominated in the category of Most Effective Contribution to Patient Safety ahead of HSJ Partnership Awards 2021. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the ceremony in June, to join us in recognizing the very best collaborations and innovations in the healthcare sector. This year’s finalists are of an outstanding caliber and all of them are exceptionally dedicated to enhancing healthcare across the UK.”

The winners will be selected following a judging stage ahead of the HSJ Partnership Awards 2021 awards ceremony. The awards evening is expected to be attended by leaders and professionals from both the NHS and private sector as well as figures from non-clinical backgrounds to celebrate innovation and collaboration in healthcare.