In behavioral health care settings, ensuring patient safety and well-being is a top priority. With the risks involved—ranging from falls and self-harm to aggression—every action taken by staff to monitor and intervene can mean the difference between life and death. But alongside safety, there is another crucial aspect of healthcare that providers must consider: cost. As healthcare expenses continue to rise, finding ways to save money while maintaining or even improving the quality of care has become more critical than ever.
This is where behavioral health technology comes in. Behavioral health providers are increasingly turning to advanced, digital solutions to improve patient safety, streamline operations, and reduce costs. One of the most innovative solutions is Oxevision, a contactless patient monitoring system that has proven to deliver both life-saving results and substantial financial benefits.
New research from the York Health Economics Consortium (YHEC), a UK-based research firm, has shown just how impactful Oxevision can be. For a medium-sized, 300-bed behavioral health care provider, the use of Oxevision for just one year results in an impressive net savings of $3.2 million. This figure combines $1.4 million in cash savings and $1.8 million in time savings, which, when converted into cash-equivalent value, offers a staggering return on investment (ROI). The ROI for behavioral health technology like Oxevision, based purely on cash savings, is 183% within the first year, and the provider typically breaks even within just three to five months of implementing the system.
But the benefits don’t stop at the financial level—behavioral health technology is also enhancing patient outcomes, reducing the strain on staff, and improving overall care delivery in behavioral health settings. Here’s a breakdown of the key findings from YHEC’s research and how Oxevision is reshaping the future of behavioral health care.
The Technology Behind Oxevision
At the core of Oxevision is its ability to gather real-time, objective data about patient activity without placing any additional burdens on either the patient or the staff. This contactless technology operates seamlessly in the background, monitoring patients’ movements, behaviors, and physiological signs. The data is then securely transmitted, allowing staff to intervene only when necessary and to proactively address any potential safety concerns.
Behavioral health technology like Oxevision is designed to work around the clock, ensuring that behavioral health patients are continuously monitored without the need for constant in-person checks. This level of monitoring not only increases the safety of patients but also helps optimize staff resources, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes and substantial cost savings.
Key Findings from YHEC’s Research
1. Oxevision Helps Reduce Safety Incidents by Up to 48%
Patient safety is a significant concern in behavioral health settings, particularly when it comes to incidents like falls, self-harm, and aggressive behavior. Oxevision’s ability to track and monitor patients in real-time enables staff to identify high-risk behaviors early and intervene before incidents escalate. As a result, providers using Oxevision have seen significant reductions in key safety incidents:
- 48% reduction in falls
- 44% reduction in self-harm
- 37% reduction in assaults
These reductions in safety incidents not only help improve patient outcomes but also save valuable staff time. As Daniel Bayley, Head of Insights and Outcomes at Oxehealth, explains: “Staff typically spend several hours dealing with a single incident. From providing support to preparing necessary paperwork, each incident takes a lot of time. Preventing these incidents with behavioral health technology doesn’t just reduce harm—it also frees up time for staff to focus on more hands-on, therapeutic care.”
Reducing incidents like falls or self-harm also means fewer hospitalizations, which directly impacts the overall cost of care for behavioral health patients. Preventing these incidents can significantly lower healthcare expenses over time, leading to substantial savings for providers.
2. Oxevision Reduces the Need for One-to-One Observations by 30%
In behavioral health care, one-to-one observations are often required for patients at high risk of harm to themselves or others. However, these observations can be highly resource-intensive and are sometimes difficult to maintain due to staffing shortages. Behavioral health technology alleviates this pressure by providing staff with real-time, actionable data, enabling them to more effectively manage patient risk.
Through the use of Oxevision, the need for one-to-one observations has been reduced by around 30%, making it easier for providers to allocate resources where they are most needed. By reducing unnecessary observations, staff can spend more time focusing on patients who require more intensive care or therapeutic interventions. Moreover, as Bayley points out, avoiding unnecessary one-to-one observations can also be beneficial to the patients themselves, as “it can actually be counterproductive to a patient’s recovery to be constantly monitored at such a close level.”
This not only creates a more comfortable and less intrusive care environment for patients but also helps reduce costs associated with staffing and resource allocation.
3. Oxevision Reduces the Time Spent on Night-Time Q15 Checks
Night-time checks are another area where Oxevision is having a major impact. In traditional behavioral health care settings, staff are required to physically check on patients every 15 minutes during the night (referred to as Q15 checks) to ensure their safety. These checks often involve entering the patient’s room, which can be disruptive, especially if the patient is sleeping. This process is also very time-consuming, making it a significant drain on staff resources.
With Oxevision, staff can remotely verify patient safety without entering their rooms or waking them up. This means that staff can complete night-time checks more quickly and quietly, leading to a less disruptive and more efficient process. The time savings are significant, with staff able to complete night-time checks in half the time it would normally take using traditional methods.
In addition to the benefits for staff efficiency, this also enhances patient experience. Being woken up frequently can negatively impact a patient’s sleep quality and overall well-being, so minimizing disruptions is a crucial part of promoting recovery in behavioral health patients.
Financial Impact: The ROI of Oxevision
The financial benefits of Oxevision are truly striking. According to YHEC’s research, the estimated net total savings for a 300-bed behavioral health provider after one year of implementing Oxevision is $3.2 million. Here’s a breakdown of the savings:
- Time savings (cash-equivalent): $1,853,880
- Net cash savings: $1,355,400
- Net total savings: $3,209,280
- ROI (cash savings only): 183%
- Break-even point: 4.2 months
This translates to a 183% return on investment within the first year of use. For a medium-sized provider, this means that Oxevision effectively pays for itself in just over four months. Over the course of five years, the potential savings could reach as high as $16 million. This makes behavioral health technology not just a smart choice for improving patient outcomes, but a financially sound decision for healthcare providers seeking to improve operational efficiency.
Conclusion: A Game-Changer for Behavioral Health Providers
Behavioral health providers are under constant pressure to deliver high-quality care while managing costs and resources effectively. Behavioral health technology offers a transformative solution to these challenges. By providing real-time, objective patient data, reducing safety incidents, improving staff efficiency, and lowering the need for costly one-to-one observations, Oxevision is not only enhancing patient care but also delivering significant financial benefits.
As the healthcare industry continues to embrace digital technologies, Oxevision stands out as a powerful tool that delivers measurable improvements in both patient outcomes and financial performance. With the ability to improve care while reducing costs, Oxevision is helping to shape the future of behavioral health care—making it safer, more efficient, and more affordable for everyone involved.
Whether you’re a provider looking to improve operational efficiency or a patient in need of compassionate care, behavioral health technology like Oxevision offers a smarter, more effective way forward.
