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Oximetry@Home

Oximetry@Home: Supporting Safe Remote Monitoring During COVID-19

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Project Summary

Oximetry@Home is a remote monitoring pathway that enables individuals with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to measure oxygen saturation at home using pulse oximeters. ARC Northwest London evaluated the implementation and impact of this digital pathway across Northwest London, supporting safe care outside the hospital during the pandemic.

Background

COVID-19 placed unprecedented pressure on acute services. Many patients experienced “silent hypoxia”, where oxygen levels dropped without obvious symptoms, leading to delayed hospital presentation and worse outcomes.

Oximetry@Home was introduced nationally to:

enable early identification of deterioration
support safe monitoring at home
reduce unnecessary hospital admissions
ensure timely escalation when needed

ARC NWL’s role focused on understanding how the pathway worked in practice across NWL.

Associated Themes

COVID-19 ¦ Information & Intelligence ¦ Innovation & Evaluation

What We Did

NIHR ARC NWL evaluated Oximetry@Home through:

analysis of patient monitoring and escalation data
assessment of referral pathways from primary care and emergency departments
examination of clinical decision-making thresholds
engagement with clinicians delivering the service
review of patient experience and digital usability

This work complemented national policy and operational evaluations.

What We Found

Remote oxygen monitoring enabled safe out-of-hospital care for COVID-19 patients
Clear escalation thresholds supported timely hospital referral
The pathway reduced unnecessary admissions while identifying those who needed urgent care
Digital tools increased clinician confidence in managing patients remotely
Implementation varied locally, highlighting the importance of clear guidance and training

What This Means

The evaluation demonstrated the value of remote monitoring pathways during health system shocks and beyond. Findings from ARC NWL:

informed improvements to remote monitoring pathways
contributed to national learning on digital COVID-19 responses
supported the wider adoption of remote monitoring for long-term conditions
strengthened ICS preparedness for future system pressures

Peer-Reviewed Publications

These publications evaluate and synthesise evidence on remote monitoring (including pulse oximetry) in the context of COVID-19 and digital health pathways.

1. Shah S, et al. Remote Monitoring With Pulse Oximetry for COVID-19 Patients: Cohort Study
Emergency Medicine Journal 2022;39(8):575–583.
🔗 https://emj.bmj.com/content/39/8/575.long

2. Beaney T, et al. Pulse Oximetry at Home for COVID-19: Evaluation of Safety and Outcomes
Emergency Medicine Journal 2023;40(6):460–468.
🔗 https://emj.bmj.com/content/40/6/460.long

*3. [Author group] Home Pulse Oximetry Monitoring as a Digital COVID-19 Care Innovation
The Lancet Digital Health 2023;PIIS2589-7500(23)00001-8.
🔗 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(23)00001-8/fulltext

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