After its pilot run at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), the RxBox vital signs monitor will be rolled out in selected Rural Health Units (RHU) across Northern Mindanao to help health facilities care for COVID-19 patients.
Developed by a team of researchers from the University of the Philippines Manila and Diliman campuses with support from the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), the RxBox is a device which captures medical signals through built-in sensors, stores data in an electronic medical record (EMR), and transmits health information via internet.
Sixty-five (65) more RxBox Telehealth devices are to be distributed in the selected RHU sites across Region 10.
DOST previously delivered 106 units of RxBox monitoring devices to the UP-PGH in March 2020.
DOST Region 10 reported that recipient sites will be evaluated through the project’s Pre-deployment Assessment procedure to validate the qualifications of the proposed health facilities.
Once approved, four (4) staff from the RHUs will be invited for a Super User Training and the facility will receive:
- one (1) RxBox Telehealth device
- one (1) CPU
- one (1) monitor
- one (1) router
The RxBox is a locally-manufactured, medical-grade telemedicine device that allows remote monitoring of a COVID-19 patient to limit contact and possible infection of health professionals.
The device was originally created to reduce child mortality (MDG 4), improve maternal health (MDG 5), and detect non-communicable diseases. The RxBox can reduce the overall cost of healthcare by enabling health workers to diagnose, monitor and treat patients within the rural health facility.
The RxBox Telehealth device is composed of the following 6 medical sensors:
1. Cardiotocograph (CTG)
2. Fetal Heart Rate Monitor
3. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
4. Blood Pressure Monitor
5. Pulse Oximeter
6. Temperature sensor
The telehealth device is part of DOST project entitled “Roll-out of 1000 RxBox Telehealth Device in Selected Rural Health Centers in the Philippines” in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Manila – National Telehealth Center (UP-NTHC), University of the Philippines Diliman – College of Engineering, DOST – Advanced Science and Technology Institute, and the Department of Health (DOH).
More University of the Philippines and DOST’s collaborations have brought forth the development of the first Philippine-made COVID-19 Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit and the Philippine-made low-cost ventilator “Ginhawa” which can help gravely ill COVID-19 patients confined in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to DOST and UP for collaborating on releasing more RxBox telehealth devices to Mindanao.
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