What is a remote patient monitoring thermometer, and why is it necessary? This article provides information about remote patient monitoring thermometers and highlights their importance in various medical conditions such as sepsis, COVID-19, postoperative care, and cancer care. It emphasizes the role of the Tenovi remote patient monitoring thermometer, its features, and how it enables proactive healthcare management and early detection of complications.
What is Remote Temperature Monitoring?
Temperature monitoring is crucial for managing various infections and illnesses. It often determines whether patients require in-patient or out-patient care. A remote patient monitoring thermometer is a remote patient monitoring device that enables patients and healthcare providers to observe critical data and respond promptly.
Consistent temperature updates reveal symptom patterns and serve as a warning signal when abnormalities arise. A remote patient monitoring thermometer is used to measure body temperature. Body temperature is a measure of the body’s internal heat. It assesses metabolic activity, detects infections, and monitors treatment response.
The average body temperature can vary depending on where it is measured but typically falls between 97°F to 99°F (36.1°C to 37.2°C). Abnormalities in body temperature can manifest as either fever, characterized by a high temperature, or hypothermia, characterized by a low temperature. The American Academy of Family Physicians defines fever as a body temperature that rises one degree or more above the standard temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. On the other hand, hypothermia is described as a decrease in body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remote Patient Monitoring Thermometers Vs. Traditional Digital Thermometers
Many digital infrared thermometers include contact and non-contact solutions that allow for the scanning of symptomatic individuals. Digital thermometers come in various options, from conventional contact thermometers to innovative touchless solutions that can scan symptomatic individuals from a safe distance. However, these thermometers require patients to record the data themselves. Or physicians may only see a temperature reading at an in-person appointment.
On the other hand, the Tenovi infrared digital thermometer is an innovative first-of-its-kind FDA-cleared cellular-connected remote patient monitoring thermometer. It combines cellular connectivity and advanced infrared temperature technology. Tenovi’s advanced thermometer utilizes AI-powered smart technology to analyze patient data, offering valuable suggestions and healthcare alerts.
The Tenovi Infrared thermometer provides a 1-second measurement that tracks body temperature remotely. With software integration, alerts can be sent to healthcare professionals if the temperature exceeds set parameters. This enables prompt and effective care of patients’ postoperative and chronic care applications.
Which Health Conditions Need a Remote Patient Monitoring Thermometer?
Remote patient monitoring thermometers let qualified healthcare professionals understand if a patient has a fever. Fever is a crucial indicator of many conditions, including the flu, COVID-19, and other infections. In addition, a fever may indicate a condition worsening or exacerbating symptoms. The following sections include a breakdown of common diseases and illnesses for which remote patient monitoring thermometers are used.
Sepsis
The body’s overreaction to infection characterizes sepsis. It is a significant factor behind hospitalizations and in-hospital fatalities in the United States. In terms of healthcare expenses, sepsis surpasses all other conditions. The elderly, specifically those 65 years or older, are more vulnerable to sepsis. Consequently, it is crucial to establish protocols and implement measures that enable early identification and treatment of sepsis.
Sepsis is a critical medical emergency that demands timely attention. A remote patient monitoring thermometer is crucial in early infection detection, particularly for sepsis, where timely antibiotic treatment is vital. If sepsis goes untreated, it can gradually harm tissues and lead to organ failure.
Remote patient monitoring can identify early indications of sepsis and promptly initiate medical intervention before symptoms worsen. For example, a fever is often the first warning sign of sepsis. However, some patients report abnormally low temperatures. A body temperature above 101.3°F and below 95°F may be cause for concern.
Clinicians can establish specific thresholds within the remote patient monitoring thermometer. Automated alerts can be triggered when vital signs deviate excessively, either in the higher or lower range. This proactive approach enables swift intervention and reduces the occurrence of adverse outcomes.
COVID-19
Several symptoms can occur in individuals with Covid-19 from mild to severe. Regardless of age or health, anyone can experience mild to severe symptoms. A fever is one common symptom. Therefore, postoperative ires careful temperature monitoring.
Measuring a patient’s body temperature with a remote patient monitoring thermometer reduces cross-contamination risk and the risk of spreading Coronavirus disease. A remote patient monitoring thermometer reduces contact and proximity between patients and healthcare professionals. Once a patient takes a temperature measurement, the data is transmitted to the Tenovi cloud database system in real-time. The data is automatically sent to the clinician dashboard so that the data can be analyzed.
Postoperative Care
Patients who are in the process of recovering from surgery face a higher risk of complications due to limited mobility caused by postoperative pain. Monitoring these patients’ progress and vital signs, especially signs of fever, is crucial. RPM helps monitor individuals at risk of developing complications, allowing for early intervention and preventing adverse outcomes.
An integrative review in gynecologic and urologic surgical oncology found that post-surgical home care with RPM is feasible, acceptable, and viable for tracking postoperative recovery and maintenance. Another study focused on older cancer patients who underwent remote patient monitoring at home after surgery. Researchers reported that the postoperative monitoring program greatly benefited these patients. Moreover, once they agreed to participate, the patients demonstrated high levels of cooperation, resulting in a high completion rate.
Cancer Care
According to The British Medical Journal, remote patient monitoring has emerged as a highly effective approach to managing cancer care for patients. The research highlights that continuous monitoring for 24 hours offers significant benefits and can potentially substantially impact individuals with cancer.
Additionally, a remote patient monitoring thermometer has been found to detect adverse events that impact body temperature, such as cytokine release syndrome. In one study, researchers saw potentially dangerous fevers roughly five hours earlier than standard temperature checks every 4-8 hours in the hospital. In addition to regularly monitoring the temperature fluctuations in each patient, the study also investigated subtle temperature variations that could indicate deviations from the patient’s usual circadian pattern. This early detection of potential issues before a significant temperature spike is crucial.
Tenovi Remote Patient Monitoring Thermometer
Tenovi is dedicated to developing innovative solutions that enhance patient adherence, reduce hospital readmission rates, and meet the growing demand for seamless integration with diverse software and services for chronic care, telehealth, and remote patient monitoring (RPM) companies. Combined with the Tenovi Cellular Gateway, the Tenovi cellular-connected, FDA-cleared infrared thermometer allows patients to transmit real-time temperature readings to clinicians automatically. The Tenovi Thermometer provides a 1-second measurement that tracks body temperature remotely, providing alerts to healthcare professionals for prompt and effective care of patients’ postoperative and chronic care applications. The dual-mode advanced infrared digital thermometer provides an eardrum or no-touch forehead mode, ensuring temperature measurements in adults and children with an impressive accuracy of +/-0.3°C (+/-0.6°F).
How to Use a Tenovi Infrared Thermometer
To begin using the Tenovi remote patient monitoring thermometer, relax for a few minutes before closely following these three easy steps.
1) Turn it on
Press the blue power button and wait for the Gateway to start flashing yellow.
2) Take a reading
Point the thermometer to the center of the forehead (1-3 cm away) and press the blue button.
3) Data-transfer
The temperature measurement data will automatically transfer to the clinician portal.
Key Points: Remote Patient Monitoring Thermometer
Overall, a remote patient monitoring thermometer is an essential tool in modern healthcare, enabling remote temperature monitoring, proactive healthcare management, and early detection of potential complications or infections. It plays a vital role in various medical conditions, including sepsis, COVID-19, postoperative care, and cancer care. By providing real-time temperature updates, this innovative device allows for early detection of potential complications or infections, facilitating prompt intervention and reducing adverse outcomes.
The Tenovi remote patient monitoring thermometer, with its advanced infrared temperature technology and cellular gateway connectivity, offers accurate measurements and seamless integration with healthcare systems. As healthcare continues to evolve, the remote patient monitoring thermometer is an indispensable tool, enhancing patient care and improving overall healthcare outcomes.
Book a free demo and consultation to learn more about Tenovi’s remote patient monitoring solutions.
