Andorra hospital introduces smart wristbands for real‑time surgical updates

The Servei Andorrà d’Atenció Sanitària (SAAS) has launched a real‑time monitoring system at Hospital Nostra Senyora de Meritxell that lets relatives follow surgical patients’ progress via an application linked to a smart wristband worn by the patient.

The wristband, equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, serves as an identification and tracking device. It transmits the patient’s status through each phase of the surgical pathway — from admission to exit from the interventions area — so family members can see in which stage the patient is at any given time.

SAAS says the tool is intended to improve communication with relatives and to humanise hospital processes by keeping them better informed. Immediate status updates aim to reduce uncertainty for companions while procedures are under way.

Beyond informing families, the system records operational data and generates indicators on patient flow, procedure duration and resource usage. Those metrics will be analysed to identify bottlenecks and to optimise organisation, staffing and equipment allocation within the surgical area.

SAAS expects that combining real‑time information for relatives with data analysis for managers will increase operational efficiency, reduce waiting times and improve the management of surgical services. The rollout is presented as part of the institution’s ongoing effort to place patients and their families at the centre of care while enhancing the quality and organisation of surgical care.