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Asset Type
Manufacturer
Model
HemoSphere Advanced Monitoring System
What This Guide Helps With
Troubleshooting HemoSphere network, data export, EMR, interface, or connectivity failures caused by setup, cabling, network, or configuration issues.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Ensure Patient Safety First
Confirm the HemoSphere monitor is not the only source being used for active patient decision-making before troubleshooting connectivity.
Action:
- Do not interrupt monitoring on an active patient unless clinical staff confirm it is safe.
- If the monitor is actively being used for hemodynamic monitoring, leave patient monitoring intact.
- Troubleshoot network/export issues only if it does not affect active bedside monitoring.
- If needed, have staff manually document values until connectivity is restored.
Expected outcome: Patient monitoring continues safely even if EMR export or network communication is unavailable.
Why it matters: A connectivity issue is usually secondary to the primary monitoring function. Patient safety and continued visibility of hemodynamic values come first.
Verify the Reported Connectivity Problem
Confirm exactly what is failing before changing settings.
Action:
- Ask clinical staff what is not working:
- No values crossing into the EMR
- Delayed values
- Wrong patient association
- No network connection
- Export failure
- HL7/interface issue
- Data not reaching a central system
- Confirm whether the monitor is still displaying patient parameters locally.
- Check whether the issue affects one HemoSphere monitor or multiple devices.
Expected outcome: The failure is narrowed to a single monitor, patient association issue, network issue, or larger interface/EMR issue.
Why it matters: One device failing points toward local cabling/configuration. Multiple devices failing points toward network, interface engine, EMR, or server-side problems.
Check the Network Cable and Physical Connection
Start with the simplest external connection.
Action:
- Inspect the Ethernet/network cable at the HemoSphere monitor.
- Confirm the cable is fully seated.
- Check for damaged connectors, broken tabs, bent cable strain relief, or loose wall jack connections.
- If safe and available, swap with a known-good network cable.
- Check for link lights at the network port, if visible.
Expected outcome: The monitor has a secure physical network connection.
Why it matters: A loose or damaged Ethernet cable can cause complete loss of export, intermittent communication, or delayed data transmission.
If this resolves the issue, return the device to service and document the cable or connection problem.
Verify the Network Jack or Drop
Confirm the wall jack or network drop is active.
Action:
- Plug the network cable into the correct clinical network jack if multiple ports are present.
- Avoid using unlabeled, inactive, guest, or non-clinical network ports.
- Test the port with an approved network tester or coordinate with IT if Clinical Engineering does not manage network validation.
- Compare against a nearby working HemoSphere monitor if available.
Expected outcome: The monitor is connected to an active, correct network port.
Why it matters: Network/export failures are often caused by the device being connected to the wrong jack, an inactive port, or a port assigned to the wrong network/VLAN.
If the jack is inactive or incorrectly configured, escalate to IT/network support.
Confirm the Correct Patient and Bed Association
Verify the monitor is associated with the correct patient/location workflow.
Action:
- Check whether the HemoSphere monitor is assigned to the correct patient, room, bed, or location according to facility workflow.
- Confirm clinical staff selected or admitted the correct patient if the system uses patient association.
- Check whether the EMR is expecting data from a specific bed, device ID, or location.
- Compare the monitor location with the EMR/interface expectation.
Expected outcome: The device, patient, and bed/location match the expected EMR destination.
Why it matters: The monitor may be working correctly but exporting data to the wrong patient context, wrong location, or not exporting because patient association is incomplete.
If this resolves the issue, confirm values are crossing correctly before closing the work order.
Check Network Status or Connectivity Indicators
Review available system status information without making deep configuration changes.
Action:
- Check the HemoSphere system status screen or connectivity/network status indicators, if available.
- Look for messages related to network unavailable, export failed, connection lost, server unavailable, or communication error.
- Record any exact error messages.
- Note whether the device has an IP address, if visible through normal user-accessible screens.
Expected outcome: The monitor provides a clear indication of whether it is connected, disconnected, or unable to communicate with a destination system.
Why it matters: Exact messages help separate physical network failure from interface, server, configuration, or EMR-side issues.
Power Cycle Only if Clinically Safe
Restart the monitor only when it will not interrupt active patient monitoring.
Action:
- Confirm with clinical staff that it is safe to restart the monitor.
- If connected to a patient, transfer monitoring or wait until the patient is no longer actively dependent on the display.
- Power the monitor down normally.
- Wait briefly, then power it back on.
- Allow the system to fully boot and reconnect.
- Check whether export or EMR communication resumes.
Expected outcome: Temporary software or communication lockups clear after restart.
Why it matters: Some communication failures are caused by temporary software, network handshake, or session problems. A safe restart can restore function without repair.
If this resolves the issue, monitor briefly to confirm values continue exporting.
Compare With Another Known-Good Monitor
Determine whether the issue follows the device or the network location.
Action:
- Move the suspected HemoSphere monitor to a known-good network location if safe and appropriate.
- Or connect a known-good HemoSphere monitor to the same network jack.
- Do not swap devices on active patients unless coordinated with clinical staff.
Expected outcome:
- If the same monitor fails in a known-good location, suspect device configuration or internal communication issue.
- If a known-good monitor also fails at the same jack, suspect network drop, VLAN, IT configuration, or interface routing.
Why it matters: This is one of the best ways to separate a device problem from a network infrastructure problem.
Check for Recent Changes
Look for timing clues.
Action:
- Ask when the issue started.
- Check whether there were recent changes to:
- Network ports
- EMR/interface system
- Room/bed mapping
- Device replacement
- Software updates
- IP/network configuration
- Patient admission/discharge workflow
- Ask whether other networked medical devices are affected.
Expected outcome: A recent change may explain why communication stopped.
Why it matters: Connectivity failures often happen after network changes, interface engine work, room moves, or patient association changes rather than hardware failure.
Escalate to IT / Interface Support When Appropriate
Involve the correct support team once local device checks are complete.
Action:
- Contact IT, clinical informatics, or the interface/EMR support team if:
- The network jack is inactive
- Multiple monitors are affected
- The device has network link but no EMR data export
- Patient/bed mapping appears incorrect
- HL7/interface messages are not reaching the EMR
- The issue started after a network or EMR change
- Provide the device asset number, serial number, location, IP address if available, error message, and time of failure.
Expected outcome: Network, interface, or EMR-side causes are investigated by the responsible team.
Why it matters: Clinical Engineering can verify the device and external setup, but EMR routing, network switch configuration, firewall rules, and interface engine problems usually require IT or informatics support.
Verify Restoration Before Closing
Confirm that the repair or correction actually restored data flow.
Action:
- Confirm the monitor displays patient values locally.
- Confirm the expected values export to the EMR or destination system.
- Verify the correct patient and bed/location.
- Ask clinical staff to confirm they can see the expected data.
- Document whether the issue was resolved locally, escalated, or left pending IT/interface action.
Expected outcome: Data is flowing to the correct destination and clinical staff confirm normal operation.
Why it matters: Network communication may appear restored at the device but still fail at the EMR or patient association level.
If the Problem Persists
If the HemoSphere monitor continues to fail network/export/EMR communication after cable, jack, patient association, restart, and comparison testing have been completed, common external causes have been ruled out.
The device should be:
- Removed from service if the failure affects safe clinical use or required documentation workflow
- Labeled Out of Service
- Sent for repair, bench evaluation, or vendor support if the issue appears device-specific
- Escalated to IT/interface support if the issue appears network, EMR, or system-wide
Knowing when to stop is proper troubleshooting. Clinical Engineering should not continue guessing at network or EMR-side settings without the correct access, documentation, and support path.
Clinical Use Tip
Do not troubleshoot network/export issues in a way that interrupts active patient monitoring. If the monitor is being used for live hemodynamic management, have clinical staff continue monitoring locally or move the patient to another safe monitoring setup before restarting, moving, or disconnecting the device.
Work Order Documentation (CCR Method)
CCR = Complaint, Cause, Resolution
Complaint
What was reported by the clinical staff.
Example:
"Clinical staff reported that the Edwards HemoSphere monitor in OR 4 was displaying values locally but not exporting hemodynamic data to the EMR."
Cause
What was observed during troubleshooting.
Example:
"Found Ethernet connection secure and monitor operating normally, but network drop did not provide active clinical network connectivity."
Resolution
What action was taken.
Example:
"Verified monitor operation on a known-good network jack, escalated inactive wall port to IT, and returned the monitor to service once EMR data export was confirmed."
Helpful Details to Include (If Known)
- Patient monitoring status at time of call
- Exact reported export or EMR issue
- Alarm behavior or connectivity warnings observed
- Whether values displayed normally on the HemoSphere screen
- Ethernet cable condition
- Cable swapped, if performed
- Wall jack tested
- Network link/status indicators
- IP address or network status, if available
- Error messages or connection warnings
- Whether one monitor or multiple monitors were affected
- Patient/bed association verified
- Power behavior before and after restart, if performed
- Environmental factors such as room move, network port change, or recent EMR/interface change
- IT/interface ticket number, if escalated
- Final device status
Final Thought
Network and EMR issues should be approached logically. Confirm patient safety first, then check the physical connection, network jack, patient association, device status, and scope of the failure. Once the local device and external setup are ruled out, escalation to IT, informatics, interface support, or repair is the correct next step. Good documentation protects the patient, the department, and the troubleshooting process.
That is successful troubleshooting.