Vitalthings’ contactless patient monitor, Guardian M10, could generate annual savings of NOK 13.3 billion and free up to 1,350 full-time equivalents – in Norway alone. This is the conclusion of a recent report commissioned by Innovation Norway.
Vitalthings Guardian M10
• Savings per admitted patient: NOK 14,000 – 19,000
• Time freed up for nursing staff: 30 – 40 minutes per patient, per day
• Return on investment: Achievable within 12–18 months
Health Technology Benefit Analysis (Menon Economics 2025)
On behalf of Innovation Norway, Menon Economics has produced a report mapping the realized benefits associated with health technology. One of the solutions analyzed is the proactive, contactless patient monitor Vitalthings Guardian M10, which received medical approval in 2024. The patient monitor has been put into use at five German hospitals in addition to St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim and in several Norwegian municipalities.
The calculation of benefits is based on document studies, surveys, qualitative interviews, as well as a case study conducted at Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt in collaboration with Mediq Innovation Experts. The study quantified the following benefits:
- Savings per admitted patient: NOK 14,000 – 19,000
- • Time freed up for nursing staff: 30 – 40 minutes per patient, per day
- Return on investment: Achievable within 12–18 months
Read the report (In Norwegian) here
Transferable winnings
The report says the following about the calculation:
"Experiences from the innovation partnership at St. Olavs, where Guardian M10 has been implemented, suggest that Norwegian practice is comparable to Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, indicating that similar benefits can be expected in Norway. Based on the German study, Menon Economics has therefore estimated the potential benefits of nationwide implementation of Guardian M10 across all 11,000 somatic hospital beds in Norway."
Based on the German study, Menon Economics has therefore calculated the benefits that a national introduction of Guardian M10 could entail in Norway if the solution is introduced in all of the country's 11,000 somatic beds.
Big savings
Menon has calculated the following potential savings if Guardian M10 were to be deployed across all somatic hospital wards in Norway:
- NOK 13.3 billion saved annually in the specialist healthcare service
- 420 – 1,350 full-time equivalents freed up
Benefits for patients, healthcare professionals and healthcare services
The qualitative benefits of implementing Vitalthings Guardian M10 can be summarized as follows:
For the patient
- Less invasive monitoring, ensuring patient safety and comfort.
- Continuous and automated monitoring of respiration and movement, with options for pulse and oxygen saturation measurement through integration.
For healthcare professionals
- Less time spent on manual measurements and bedside checks
- Reduced physical and administrative workload.
- Real-time insights and trend data to support better decision-making.
For the healthcare system
- Shorter hospital stays, fewer acute incidents, and fewer transfers to intensive care.
Other benefits
- Environmental gains by replacing single-use equipment.
- Long lifespan of the device reduces both waste and operating costs.
St. Olavs Hospital will now begin a Norwegian evaluation study on three wards with a total of 6,500 included patients. The results of this study will be able to indicate with even greater precision the effects of a larger national implementation of Guardian M10 in Norwegian hospitals.
About the report
On behalf of Innovation Norway, Menon Economics has prepared a report that maps the realized gains associated with various health technologies that have entered into innovation contracts or innovation partnerships. The goal of the assignment has been to show, through six different examples, how health technology contributes to efficiency gains in the health sector. The report also highlights what suppliers and customers consider to be inhibitors and promoters of the implementation and scaling of such health technology. The person responsible for the project at Menon has been Erland Skogli, while Kari Rolfsjord has been the project manager. Project staff have been Liva Myrvold Holmdal and Andreas Becker Cappelen. Erik W. Jakobsen has been the quality assurance officer.
Curious about Vitalthings Guardian M10?
Guardian M10 offers continuous and precise monitoring of vital signs. The system monitors breathing rate and breathing pattern contactlessly, without the need for physical sensors.
The product is CE-marked in accordance with EU MDR (2017/745) risk class IIb. Vitalthings Guardian M10 is designed with an intuitive user interface, making it easy to use even for healthcare personnel with minimal experience with monitoring equipment.
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