According to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally, as of 21 June 2021, there have been over 178.1 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3.8 million deaths, reported to WHO. As of 20 June 2021, a total of about 2.4 billion vaccine doses have been administered.1
These statistics are daunting and although the COVID-19 vaccine is now available in many areas of the world, many are questioning: are we safe yet? The answer, it’s complicated.
While not enough people have been vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, many people are returning to a pre-pandemic way of life and the healthcare industry is no exception. More patients are choosing to return to the doctor’s office after a year of telemedicine. Healthcare workers are showing up for work every day and interacting with more patients than they have since March 2020. This all results in increased exposure and risk – something that, according to Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch and colleagues, is unlikely to change in the next year, and even possibly until 2025.2
The COVIC pandemic poses many challenges to healthcare facilities. The virus has stressed resources to near capacity. Since the start of the pandemic, it is estimated that thousands of deaths are potentially preventable depending on the health system’s response. Healthcare facilities need to mitigate the risk of resource depletion. When ICUs are full of COVID patients, more PPE, oxygen tanks, respirators, and other supplies are depleted, and this affects the hospital’s bottom line.
Every day, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals are exposed to COVID patients when they seek treatment. Healthcare facilities also need to alleviate the risk to staff’s health so that they stay healthy and productive on the job. When employees are absent due to illness, both staff and patients’ well-being suffer. Employee absenteeism contributes to lower productivity and affects patient outcomes. This reflects on hospital standards of care.
We know that knowledge is power. Patients who understand their conditions have better outcomes than those who don’t. Healthcare facilities need a way to disseminate information to patients effectively when they visit a facility. Risking a breakdown of communication between a healthcare provider and a patient can result in a return visit for the patient, more illness, and greater use of healthcare resources and time for both the patient and the healthcare provider.
Healthcare facilities must mitigate these business risks. So how can we keep everyone safe as we enter into the new normal? The answer is less complicated…Technology.
Everyone involved in healthcare delivery is concerned about your safety and theirs. We all want to keep each other well and technology holds the key to providing a stress-free healthcare experience for patients, visitors, and staff. Technology provides peace of mind, so healthcare facilities can focus on delivering the best possible care and patients can receive the in-person treatment they need.
Over the past year, several IoT devices have been developed, including manual body temperature scanners and automated temperature screening kiosks. Temperature measurement is critical as we are likely to see scattered outbreaks of COVID for decades to come, even with the vaccine available, and monitoring is our first line of defense.
For both patients and medical staff, temperature screening kiosks can provide enhanced security and safety, minimize human contact, streamline patient check-in, and share relevant patient health information.
Many of these temperature screening kiosks also feature facial recognition software, so they protect medical staff in two ways. First, the kiosks scan staff’s temperature before they enter the building, so that if they have a fever, they will not spread it to their colleagues. Second, the kiosks use facial recognition software to verify the identity of each staff member, preventing unauthorized people from entering the building.
To stop illness from being transmitted from patients to medical staff, kiosks not only scan temperature, but also enable contactless check-in to verify patients’ personal information.
Over the past year-and-a-half, we have been told time and time again, “Don’t touch your face. Wash your hands. Maintain social distance.” A contactless temperature kiosk helps us follow these rules. Because they measure temperature automatically, kiosks are sanitary, secure, and accurate. Kiosks are a safer solution than manual temperature scanners, which require handling and sanitization.
When staff, patients, and visitors enter a healthcare facility, a temperature kiosk can signal a fever and potential illness and deny entry to the building. This prevents the spread of COVID within the facility. Tracking the health of visitors coming in and out of the building gives staff peace of mind.
Some kiosks, like the Black Box Temperature Screening Kiosk (BDS-8), do even more. The BDS-8 recognizes staff’s faces and verifies them against employee records to screen and control who enters the building. If there is a COVID outbreak, information gathered by these screening kiosks can also facilitate contact tracing.
A screening kiosk also streamlines record-keeping. Employees can scan an RFID card to gain access to the building. A kiosk can keep attendance records and log employees’ entry and exit times.
Front-desk staff in healthcare facilities is tasked with checking in potentially ill patients. Take for example, patient Dave. When Dave went to his doctor in early 2019 for a checkup, the office staff handed him a paper on a clipboard to fill out. He reached for a pen from the cup full of pens on the reception desk. He then filled out the form and handed it to the office person. Today, this procedure may spread viruses such as COVID, flu, and other illnesses, and is therefore, uncommon.
This year, when Dave went to his annual checkup at the doctor’s office, the check-in procedure was vastly different. Dave walked up to a temperature kiosk, which then logged Dave’s face, temperature, and time automatically and simultaneously. Once his temperature was confirmed to be in the healthy range, the kiosk began displaying instructions on the screen for Dave to follow in order to check in for his appointment. Because everything was automatic, Dave was assured that there would be no record-keeping errors. Using the kiosk to eliminate human-to-human contact kept both Dave and the medical staff safe.
Kiosks also protect confidential information — they can ask questions and store answers or acknowledgements anonymously. And kiosks can quickly process large groups entering a facility. The check-in process is quick and simple. Kiosks can also provide instructions in a language suited to the user.
Kiosks improve safety and security and simplify processes while reducing errors. As we learned from Dave’s experience, check-in kiosks give patients control over their own registration process, reducing errors in recording personal information. The BDS-8 Kiosk can share an on-screen questionnaire or a QR code, which can be scanned by the patient’s phone. By streamlining these procedures, front-desk staff no longer needs to enter data and can concentrate on other tasks, such as scheduling or answering questions. With multiple kiosks, multiple patients can check in at the same time.
Waiting at the doctor’s office...We all expect it. Kiosks keep patients engaged by displaying effective digital signage content upon point of entry or in waiting rooms. Kiosks can play digital signage content when the kiosk is not being used to check in patients. Informational content displayed on a kiosk screen can educate patients about their health concerns and provide guidance on managing their health problems. This gives patients a better experience and time will pass more quickly. Kiosks with an HDMI output can also be connected to a large display for better viewing in a waiting room.
Temperature scanning in healthcare facilities is needed now, but even after the pandemic is over, contactless and automated temperature screening kiosks will still be relevant to the healthcare industry. While the virus is more controlled now and many people are vaccinated, healthcare facilities still need to monitor temperatures. We know that COVID, flu, and other illnesses will never fully disappear. We will be seeing viral outbreaks well into the future. Temperature screening kiosks are a valuable tool for restricting staff and patient access to a healthcare facility. In addition, secure and efficient check-in procedures will always be needed. Kiosks can optimize these processes, too. Plus, when they are not being used to check patients in, kiosks can display informational content to educate patients. This makes it easier to convey important information to patients to keep everyone healthier.
When the goal of healthcare facilities is to mitigate risk to resources, staff, and patients, temperature screening kiosks can be a viable solution. Because these kiosks eliminate human-to-human contact, optimize patient check-in, and disseminate information pertaining to patient health, they provide unparalleled value to healthcare facilities and help ensure their sustainability by keeping staff and patients safe.
Protect your staff, patients, and visitors with the BDS-8 Kiosk. For details, watch the BDS-8 demonstration video and call Black Box.
Kulingana na Shirika la Afya Duniani (WHO), kufikia Juni 21, 2021, kulikuwa na kesi zaidi ya milioni 178.1 zilizothibitishwa za COVID-19, ikiwa ni pamoja na vifo milioni 3.8 vilivyoripotiwa kwa WHO. Kufikia Juni 20, 2021, jumla ya dozi 2.4 za chanjo zimetolewa.Hizi takwimu ni za kutisha na ingawa chanjo ya COVID-19 sasa inapatikana katika maeneo mengi ya ulimwengu, wengi wanajiuliza: Je, bado tuko salama? Jibu, ni ngumu. Ingawa watu wa kutosha hawaja chanjowa kufikia kinga ya kundi, watu wengi wanarudi kwa njia ya maisha ya kabla ya janga na tasnia ya huduma za afya sio ubaguzi. Wagonjwa wengi wanachagua kurudi kwenye ofisi ya daktari baada ya mwaka mmoja wa telemedicine. Wafanyakazi wa huduma za afya wanawasili kazini kila siku na kuwasiliana na wagonjwa wengi kuliko walivyofanya tangu Machi 2020. Hii yote inasababisha kuongezeka kwa mfiduo na hatari - kitu ambacho, kulingana na mtaalamu wa magonjwa ya Harvard Marc Lipschitz na wenzake, haiwezekani kubadilika mwaka ujao, na hata labda hadi 2025. Virusi hivyo vimefanya rasilimali ziwe karibu na uwezo wake. Tangu kuanza kwa janga hilo, inakadiriwa kuwa maelfu ya vifo vinaweza kuzuiwa kulingana na majibu ya mfumo wa afya. Vifaa vya huduma za afya vinahitaji kupunguza hatari ya kupungua kwa rasilimali. Wakati ICU zinajaa wagonjwa wa COVID-19, PPE zaidi, tanki za oksijeni, vifaa vya kupumua, na vifaa vingine vinakoma, na hii huathiri mstari wa chini wa hospitali. Kila siku, madaktari, wauguzi na wataalamu wengine wa huduma za afya wanakabiliwa na wagonjwa wa COVID-19 wanapotaka matibabu. Vituo vya huduma za afya pia vinahitaji kupunguza hatari kwa afya ya wafanyakazi ili wawe na afya na uzalishaji kazini. Wakati wafanyakazi hawapo kwa sababu ya ugonjwa, wote wafanyakazi na wagonjwa'ustawi wanateseka. Kutokuwepo kwa wafanyakazi huchangia kupunguza uzalishaji na huathiri matokeo ya wagonjwa. Hilo huathiri viwango vya utunzaji vya hospitali. Tunajua kwamba ujuzi ni nguvu. Wagonjwa ambao wanaelewa hali zao wana matokeo bora kuliko wale ambao hawajui. Vituo vya huduma za afya vinahitaji njia ya kusambaza habari kwa wagonjwa kwa ufanisi wanapotembelea kituo. Kuanguka kwa mawasiliano kati ya mtoa huduma ya afya na mgonjwa kunaweza kusababisha ziara ya kurudi kwa mgonjwa, ugonjwa zaidi, na matumizi makubwa ya rasilimali za huduma ya afya na wakati kwa mgonjwa na mtoa huduma ya afya. Vifaa vya huduma za afya lazima kupunguza hatari hizi za biashara. Kwa hivyo tunawezaje kuwaweka watu wote salama tunapoingia katika hali ya kawaida mpya? Jibu si gumu sana... Teknolojia. Kila mtu anayehusika katika utoaji wa huduma za afya ana wasiwasi juu ya usalama wako na wao. """Sisi sote tunataka kila mmoja wetu awe na afya nzuri na teknolojia inashikilia ufunguo wa kutoa uzoefu wa huduma ya afya bila mkazo kwa wagonjwa, wageni na wafanyakazi." Teknolojia hutoa amani ya akili, kwa hivyo vituo vya huduma za afya vinaweza kuzingatia kutoa huduma bora iwezekanavyo na wagonjwa wanaweza kupokea matibabu ya kibinafsi wanayohitaji. Katika mwaka uliopita, vifaa kadhaa vya IoT vimeundwa, pamoja na skena za joto la mwili za mkono na kioski za uchunguzi wa joto za kiotomatiki. """Kupima joto ni muhimu kwani tunaweza kuona milipuko ya COVID iliyotawanyika kwa miongo ijayo, hata na chanjo inayopatikana, na ufuatiliaji ni mstari wetu wa kwanza wa ulinzi." Kwa wagonjwa na wafanyakazi wa matibabu, kioski za uchunguzi wa joto zinaweza kutoa usalama na usalama ulioimarishwa, kupunguza mawasiliano ya kibinadamu, kurahisisha ukaguzi wa mgonjwa, na kushiriki habari muhimu za afya ya mgonjwa. Kioski za kupima joto pia zina programu ya kutambua nyuso, kwa hivyo zinalinda wafanyakazi wa matibabu kwa njia mbili. Kiosks hizo huchunguza joto la wafanyakazi kabla hawajaingia kwenye jengo, ili kama wana homa, wasiwaambukize wenzake. Kiosks hizo hutumia programu ya kutambua nyuso ili kuthibitisha utambulisho wa kila mfanyakazi, na hivyo kuzuia watu wasio na ruhusa kuingia ndani ya jengo hilo. Ili kuzuia ugonjwa usipite kutoka kwa wagonjwa hadi kwa wafanyakazi wa matibabu, kiosks sio tu hupima joto, lakini pia huwezesha ukaguzi wa bila kuwasiliana ili kuthibitisha habari za kibinafsi za wagonjwa. Katika mwaka mmoja na nusu uliopita, tumeambiwa mara kwa mara, "Usiuguse uso wako". Osha mikono yako. Kudumisha umbali wa kijamii. <unk> Kiosk ya joto isiyo na mawasiliano inatuwezesha kufuata sheria hizi. Kwa sababu vituo hivyo hupima joto moja kwa moja, ni vyenye usafi, salama, na sahihi. Kioski ni suluhisho salama zaidi kuliko skena za joto za mkono, ambazo zinahitaji kushughulikiwa na kusafishwa. Wakati wafanyakazi, wagonjwa, na wageni kuingia kituo cha huduma ya afya, kiosk joto inaweza ishara ya homa na ugonjwa uwezekano na kukataa kuingia katika jengo. Hii inazuia kuenea kwa COVID ndani ya kituo hicho. Kufuatilia afya ya wageni wanaingia na kutoka jengo hilo huwapa wafanyakazi amani ya akili. Kioski ya Black Box ya Utafiti wa Joto (BDS-8) BDS-8 inatambua nyuso za wafanyakazi na kuzihakikisha dhidi ya rekodi za wafanyakazi ili kuchunguza na kudhibiti nani anayeingia jengo. Ikiwa kuna mlipuko wa COVID-19, habari zilizokusanywa na kiosks hizi za uchunguzi pia zinaweza kuwezesha kufuatilia mawasiliano. Kioski ya kuchunguza pia husaidia kuhifadhi rekodi. Wafanyakazi wanaweza kuchanganua kadi ya RFID ili kupata upatikanaji wa jengo hilo. Kiosk inaweza kuweka rekodi za mahudhurio na kurekodi nyakati za kuingia na kutoka kwa wafanyikazi. Wafanyakazi wa ofisi ya mapokezi katika vituo vya utunzaji wa afya wanawajibika kuchunguza wagonjwa wanaoweza kuwa wagonjwa. Kwa mfano, mgonjwa anayeitwa Dave. Dave alipokwenda kwa daktari wake mapema mwaka 2019 kwa ajili ya uchunguzi, wafanyakazi wa ofisi walimpa karatasi kwenye ubao wa kukamata ili ajayalishe. Alichukua kalamu kutoka kikombe kilichojaa kalamu kwenye dawati la mapokezi. Kisha akajaza fomu hiyo na kumkabidhi mtu wa ofisini. Leo, utaratibu huu unaweza kueneza virusi kama vile COVID, mafua, na magonjwa mengine, na kwa hivyo, si ya kawaida. Mwaka huu, wakati Dave alienda kwa uchunguzi wake wa kila mwaka katika ofisi ya daktari, utaratibu wa kuangalia-katika ilikuwa tofauti sana. Dave alitembea hadi kioski cha joto, ambayo kisha ilirekodi uso wa Dave, joto, na wakati moja kwa moja na kwa wakati mmoja. Baada ya kupima joto la mwili wake, kioski ilianza kuonyesha maagizo kwa Dave ili afanye uchunguzi. Kwa kuwa kila kitu kilikuwa cha moja kwa moja, Dave alihakikishiwa kwamba hakungekuwa na makosa ya kuhifadhi rekodi. Kutumia kibanda hicho ili kuondoa mawasiliano kati ya binadamu na mwanadamu kulimhifadhi Dave na wafanyakazi wa kitiba salama. Kiosks pia kulinda habari za siri <unk> wanaweza kuuliza maswali na kuhifadhi majibu au kukiri bila jina. Na vibanda vya maonyesho vinaweza kusindika haraka vikundi vikubwa vinavyoingia katika kituo. Utaratibu wa kuingia ni wa haraka na rahisi. Kiosks pia inaweza kutoa maelekezo katika lugha inayofaa kwa mtumiaji. Kiosks kuboresha usalama na usalama na kurahisisha taratibu wakati kupunguza makosa. Kama tulivyojifunza kutoka kwa uzoefu wa Dave, kioski za ukaguzi hutoa wagonjwa udhibiti juu ya mchakato wao wa usajili, kupunguza makosa katika kurekodi habari za kibinafsi. Kiosk ya BDS-8 inaweza kushiriki maswali kwenye skrini au nambari ya QR, ambayo inaweza kuchunguzwa na simu ya mgonjwa. Kwa kuharakisha taratibu hizi, wafanyakazi wa mbele-desk hawana tena haja ya kuingiza data na wanaweza kuzingatia kazi nyingine, kama vile kupanga au kujibu maswali. Kwa kuwa kuna vibanda vingi, wagonjwa wengi wanaweza kuingia wakati uleule. Kusubiri katika ofisi ya daktari...Sisi sote tunatarajia hilo. Kiosks kuweka wagonjwa kushiriki kwa kuonyesha ufanisi digital signage maudhui juu ya hatua ya kuingia au katika vyumba vya kusubiri. Kiosks inaweza kucheza digital signage maudhui wakati kioski si kutumika kuangalia katika wagonjwa. Maelezo yaliyoonyeshwa kwenye kiosk yanaweza kuwafundisha wagonjwa kuhusu wasiwasi wao wa afya na kutoa mwongozo juu ya kusimamia matatizo yao ya afya. Hii huwapa wagonjwa uzoefu bora na wakati utapita haraka zaidi. Kiosks na HDMI pato pia inaweza kuunganishwa na kuonyesha kubwa kwa ajili ya kuangalia bora katika chumba cha kusubiri. Utafiti wa joto katika vituo vya huduma za afya unahitajika sasa, lakini hata baada ya janga hilo kumalizika, kioski za uchunguzi wa joto zisizo na mawasiliano na za kiotomatiki bado zitakuwa muhimu kwa tasnia ya huduma za afya. Ingawa virusi vimedhibitiwa zaidi sasa na watu wengi wamepewa chanjo, vituo vya huduma za afya bado vinahitaji kufuatilia joto. """Tunajua kwamba COVID-19, mafua na magonjwa mengine hayatapotea kabisa." Tutaona milipuko ya virusi kwa muda mrefu katika siku zijazo. Kiosks za kupima joto ni chombo chenye thamani cha kuzuia wafanyakazi na wagonjwa kuingia katika kituo cha huduma za afya. Kwa kuongezea, utaratibu salama na mzuri wa kuandikisha utahitajika daima. Kiosks inaweza kuboresha michakato hii, pia. Kwa kuongezea, wakati hazitumiwi kuandikisha wagonjwa, vibanda vinaweza kuonyesha yaliyomo ya habari ili kuwaelimisha wagonjwa. Hii inafanya iwe rahisi kupeleka habari muhimu kwa wagonjwa ili kila mtu awe na afya. Wakati lengo la vituo vya huduma za afya ni kupunguza hatari kwa rasilimali, wafanyakazi, na wagonjwa, kiosks ya uchunguzi wa joto inaweza kuwa suluhisho linalofaa. Kiosks hizi zinahakikisha mawasiliano ya binadamu na binadamu, kuboresha mtihani wa mgonjwa, na kueneza habari zinazohusiana na afya ya mgonjwa, na kutoa thamani isiyo na kifani kwa vituo vya huduma za afya na kusaidia kuhakikisha uendelevu wao kwa kuweka wafanyakazi na wagonjwa salama. Weka huduma za afya na afya kwa wateja wako na wateja wako kwa kutumia kiosk ya BDS8 Kwa maelezo zaidi, angalia video ya maonyesho ya BDS-8 na piga simu Black Box.