Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 24) — The Department of Science and Technology is deploying units of a remodeled telehealth device in select healthcare facilities to assist medical workers.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” Dela Peña said in a public briefing Friday that the department is delivering 200 out of its locally-produced 1,000 units of the RxBox telemedicine to the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, and the Santa Rosa Community Hospital in Laguna.
“Ang objective po nito ay maipakita na pwedeng ma-monitor ang ating pasyente na hindi madalas malapitan ng health worker, dahil ‘yun pong vital signs ay na-rerelay via computer sa nurses’ station. [Makikilala] nila kung sino ‘yung patient na stable naman, at sino ‘yung nangangailangan ng urgent attention,” Dela Peña said.
[Translation: The objective of this is to show that patients, particularly those who receive less medical attention, can be easily monitored, as information on their vital signs will be relayed via computer to the nurses’ station. They will know who among their patients are stable, and who are in need of urgent attention.]
“Bukod do’n, mas marami na silang pwedeng ma-reach na pasyente,” he added.
[Translation: Aside from that, they will be able to cater to more patients.]
The DOST pointed out that the use of the telemedicine will lower the risk of infection for frontliners, as it will help them reduce physical contact, particularly with COVID-19 patients.
It added that it has specifically repurposed the “RxBoxes” to support health workers amid the high demand in hospitals.
“Ang aming initial objective ay para magamit [ang RxBoxes] ng mga rural areas kung saan walang mga espesyalistang doktor. Ito ay ginagamit sa pasyente at na-momonitor ang mga vital signs, including temperature; blood pressure; at ang pulse rate; at ‘yung oxygen saturation; at pwede rin pong electrocardiogram o ECG; at nagagamit din po ‘yan [para] ma-detect ‘yung pregnancy. Pero ‘yun po ngayon ay ni-repurpose namin,” Dela Peña said.
[Translation: Our initial objective was to use the RxBoxes in rural areas, where there are no medical specialists. The RxBoxes are used to monitor the patients’ vital signs, including temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, and oxygen saturation. It can also be used as an electrocardiogram or ECG, or to detect pregnancy; but we have now repurposed it.]
The DOST said it will start to deploy the units “anytime.”
