January 21, 2022
News
After four months, team of Caritas Czech Republic (CCR) and S-case company from Slovakia successfully concluded the project aiming at pilot testing of S-case multifunctional telemedicine device. It was proven that this device is efficient for primary health care facilities located in rural areas as it increases the productivity of healthcare providers, detects new cases of different non-communicable diseases, and as it enables fast and accurate data-sharing and storage in electronic format.
Dozens of new cases detected
“During four months, more than 230 patients were measured by S-case device and dozens of new cases of hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, and low blood saturation were detected. Moreover, using this device, which can take four vital signs at the time, can reduce the time required for a complete examination of the patient from ten to five minutes,” CCR health expert Nato Shengelia said.
S-case combines four sensors, specifically, contactless thermometer, pulse oximeter, glucometer, and blood pressure monitor, and is connected to a web platform that is used for digitalization and saving of all measured and inserted data enabling better overview of the patient´s case by the doctor.
Another advantage of the S-case device is its attractiveness for the patients, which is likely to increase utilization of healthcare services and preventive care. As Mzeo Abashvili, the health professional from Lapanaantkari rural ambulatory, said: “This device is an opportunity to conduct preventive examinations of our population without additional travel to Dusheti polyclinic which often is not acceptable for village patients due to time loss and transportation difficulty.”
Tested in five rural ambulatories of Dusheti Municipality
According to WHO, life expectancy in Georgia has been increasing slowly in recent years, with a growing number of older people living with chronic and comorbid conditions. Non-communicable diseases account for an estimated 93% of total deaths in Georgia, 69% of those are due to cardiovascular diseases. Early monitoring and diagnostics can support people with such health issues to live longer and quality life. As the pilot project proven, the S-case device is well suited to be part of these efforts on primary healthcare level.
Pilot testing was done from September to December 2021 in five rural ambulatories in Dusheti Municipality. Before actual use of the devices in clinical practice, the nurses were trained by S-case team in proper use and data collection. As of September, Scase devices were fully used by nurses or doctors for door-to-door visits of local people or within mentioned ambulatories. The main aim was to provide these experts with a portable, medical device that also serves as a digital patient´s database or digital notebook.
Read more about our cooperation with S-case here.
