WESTLAKE, Ohio — Frontline healthcare workers at University Hospitals who work with COVID-19 patients will soon be able to wear a monitoring device made by a local Westlake company that detects when their temperature spikes at the onset of a fever.
The device is manufactured by Blue Spark Technologies, Inc., and is a small patch that monitors temperatures and can wirelessly transmit temperature fluctuations via Bluetooth, so healthcare workers are aware if they start exhibiting one of the most common signs of coronavirus.
Each device is a single-use patch that can be worn for up to 72 hours. The benefit is that the person wearing the patch can be monitored with minimal contact.
"Those delivering close-contact aid and medical treatment to patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are on the frontlines," says Theodoros N. Teknos, M.D., president and scientific director, UH Seidman Cancer Center. "If they fall ill with COVID-19 symptoms, we face losing an essential line of defense against this disease and also risk infecting others, further perpetuating the problem. By continuously monitoring our healthcare workers’ temperatures rather than intermittently, we are better positioned to intervene quickly to ensure the safety and health of our caregivers and our patients."
According to University Hospitals, if a healthcare worker wearing the patch gets a fever, that person will then be removed from the floor and will work with a supervisor to determine the next course of action.
"We are immensely thankful for the men and women who are working tirelessly to care for those inflicted with COVID-19," says John Gannon, Blue Spark President and CEO. "And we’re grateful to be able to do our small part to protect them during such a difficult, uncertain time."
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