Smart monitoring enables earlier assessment and personalised patient support
Singapore’s National University Hospital (NUH) is expanding the use of wearable technology in hospital care after a successful smartwatch pilot demonstrated its potential to improve post-surgical monitoring, enhance patient comfort, and support earlier clinical assessment.
Completed in June 2026, the month-long pilot found that smartwatch-based monitoring could detect changes in patients’ vital signs up to two hours earlier than routine manual observations. Following the results, NUH plans to introduce wearable monitoring for up to 10% of suitable inpatient vital signs monitoring over the coming year.
The initiative is part of NUH’s efforts to leverage digital innovation to enhance patient safety, improve patient experience, and optimise healthcare delivery.
Led by NUH’s Department of Surgery in collaboration with surgical ward nurses, operations teams, and researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, the pilot involved patients wearing a Health Sciences Authority-approved smartwatch capable of continuously tracking key health indicators.
The wearable device monitored blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood oxygen saturation levels, giving healthcare teams earlier visibility of patients’ conditions. Nurses continued routine bedside checks and verified abnormal readings using standard equipment before following existing clinical protocols.
The pilot showed that wearable monitoring could safely complement conventional hospital care. No critical clinical events were missed, while abnormal vital signs were identified earlier compared with routine observations.
During the trial, the smartwatch detected several changes in patients’ conditions, including episodes of low blood pressure, high blood pressure, low pulse rate, and reduced blood oxygen saturation. All cases were reviewed promptly by nurses, and none progressed to clinical deterioration.
For patients, the technology helped create a more comfortable recovery environment. Those using smartwatch monitoring experienced fewer disruptions caused by routine vital signs checks, particularly during overnight stays.
The system is also expected to improve nursing efficiency. Once smartwatch data is integrated directly into NUH’s EPIC electronic medical record system, documentation time for each vital signs check could be reduced from around two minutes to approximately 40 seconds per patient.
Nurse Manager Lim Pooi See said wearable technology enables nurses to spend more time on direct patient care while reducing repetitive monitoring tasks. The wireless device also allows patients to move more comfortably during recovery compared with traditional monitoring equipment.
Associate Professor Asim Shabbir, Head and Senior Consultant at NUH’s Department of Surgery, said the pilot demonstrates how technology can strengthen clinical care by helping clinicians identify changes earlier and make timely decisions.
As NUH expands the programme, the hospital will continue evaluating how wearable technology can be safely introduced across suitable patient groups. The initiative marks a step towards a future where digital innovation supports safer care, more comfortable recovery experiences, and more personalised healthcare delivery.
Source: National University Hospital
