32
Case Study
The decline in a patients health and oxygen saturation is seen in the data below. Note the period of decreased
oxygen saturation from the
Green
(fair) zone to
Amber
(poor) (see
Page 10
for explanation) whilst the volunteer is
experiencing an exacerbation or a mild chest infection. It soon recovers to a healthy reading in the
Green
zone.
By watching the overall trending of health parameters this volunteer was able to identify the onset of declining lung
function, take their recovery antibiotics earlier to overcome a chest infection and improve their pulse oximeter
reading through self
-
care over a reasonably short period of time and without admission to hospital.
Awareness of declining health allows for rapid adjustment in health behaviours and taking prescribed rescue pack
antibiotics according to their self
-
care plan made in conjunction with their medical team.
Chart
—
365
day view of Oxygen Saturation. This individual may have had a mild chest infection during the middle
part of this graph as indicated when their Oxygen Saturation dipped into the
Amber zone
(poor
) based upon
population tables of declining Oxygen Saturation and then their reading returned to the
Green zone
(fair).
Period of decreased oxygen
saturation due to ill health