‘Twas the night before clinical surveillance kicked in,
when all through the house… (Hospital that is)

Not a creature was stirring…ok, maybe a mouse.

IHI, TJC, and APSF initiatives were hung on every website all year,

In hopes that a real-time surveillance solution soon would be here.

The patients were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of vigilance danced in their heads.

The C-suite in their suits, and I in my scrubs,

Had racked our brains in meetings and hubs.

When outside the hospital there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my work-station to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and held on to my cash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a real-time patient-safety solution, carried by reps dressed like reindeer.

With a spry young driver, so lively and quick,

What would he sell me? What is his shtick?

More rapid than eagles his answers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now, missed alarms! Now, missed alerts! Now, compromised patients in bed!

On, interruptions! On, gaps! On frustration and dread!

To the top of the roof! To the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

And then, in a twinkling, I asked him for proof

A unified platform? This must be a spoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney Bernoulli Healthcare came with a bound.

He was dressed in confidence, from his head to his foot,

His answer promised predictive trends and meaningful alarm through-put.

A bundle of workflows he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! His dimples how merry!

Consecutive, combined, sustained algorithms he boasted; a data confection topped with a cherry!

Integrated with the EHR tied up like a bow,

A phased in approach– tis the season to toss out all woes.

National use-models in place did he bequeath,

The excitement… it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was eager and bright, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

Real-time analytics, agnostic device integration – all on the same thread,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

Bringing in the clinical and support teams…a standard, not a perk.

And shaking the hand of the customer he chose,

Giving a nod to advancing patient safety, together they rose!

He sprang to his feet, to his team gave a whistle,

From afar they all gathered like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

“Safe patient care to all, and to all a good-night!”