As healthcare systems around the world struggle to keep pace with the rapidly growing number of patients, officials are doing their best to increase patient capacity in every conceivable environment. Patient beds fill hospital corridors. Provisional hospitals, tents, convention centers and even naval ships are taking on the overflow.

As a result, I’ve recently been contacted by many hospitals and long-term care facilities on how Axis technology can help manage these new challenges.  In this blog, I’ll share healthcare use cases where our technology is relevant for helping to meet increased patient care demands, protect vital assets, and mitigate staff exposure to infection.

Improving patient care with remote monitoring

Many of my recent conversations with healthcare professionals have related to using video and audio as a force multiplier for medical teams who are asked to do more with fewer resources. One major New York City hospital, for example, is adding 500 new ICU beds – each with its own camera and two-way audio – so nurses can monitor and communicate with patients safely and remotely.

In a previous blog, we examined how healthcare professionals at Nemours Children’s Hospital monitor all their patients nation-wide from a central tactical logistics center. Using video to validate patient telemetry alarms, the team can quickly dismiss nuisance alarms and direct their teams where they are most needed.

In addition, the two-way audio feature in many of our products enables healthcare providers to listen for audible indicators of breathing difficulties, as well as speak remotely with their patients.

Overall, remote monitoring can aid hospitals that are experiencing a surge in patients which has resulted in an increased demand on limited staff and resources. In times like these, where the risk of person-to-person contagion transmission is high, remote monitoring can also help eliminate unnecessary patient contact – minimizing the risk to healthcare workers and making single-use personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies stretch further. Lee Health, one of Florida’s largest health systems, is also using video for a variety of patient monitoring needs.

Protecting personal protective equipment, supplies, equipment & medicine

Global shortages of personal protective equipment, supplies, ventilators and medications, means these items are more vulnerable to the risk of theft and diversion. And this is a critical healthcare need where our technology is relevant.  Axis video and access control solutions help healthcare providers and public officials secure their assets by limiting access to restricted areas and providing video and event logs of all authorized and unauthorized access attempts.

In addition to protecting their assets, our security solutions help hospitals manage public access to their facilities. I’m currently working with a hospital in Los Angeles to provide greater access control between the main building and temporary shelters using our video intercom solutions.

Does Axis provide “fever detection” solutions?

Using fever detection to contain the global spread of the COVID-19 virus has been a pressing topic in recent weeks.  However, while our temperature control cameras based on thermal technology are capable of precise temperature measurements under specific conditions, they are intended for industrial use and have a published degree of accuracy of +/- 5⁰ C out-of-the-box. Further, they lack the FDA 510(K) compliance necessary for use as a medical device. So, no I do not recommend them for fever detection.

We’re here to help you address your healthcare needs

I understand that our partners and customers have questions about how our technology can help mitigate the impact of the global pandemic. Please know that our team is here at your disposal. We are committed to providing you with the information you need to make responsible, effective decisions and technology procurement choices that help prioritize your resources. We welcome your comments, feedback and questions.

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