Novel wearable technology for remote and continuous COVID-19 patient monitoring at home

该项目的目标是开发一种低成本的可穿戴传感器系统，用于远程和连续监测家中的COVID-19患者。一种能够连续准确地测量全面生命体征的传感器系统，将使居家患者及其护理人员能够更好、及时地决定，当他们的健康状况逐渐或突然发生变化时，是否应该升级护理。特别是，这与COVID-19大流行有关，其中患者数量迅速增加，住院时间长，给加拿大医疗保健系统带来了压力。这种为居家患者提供的低成本系统可以挽救生命，因为包括弗雷泽卫生局在内的加拿大卫生当局正在为未来可能出现的COVID-19疫情浪潮做准备，一旦身体距离措施放松，疫情可能会出现。特别令人感兴趣的是由COVID-19肺炎引起的“无症状缺氧”病例，如果不及时进行适当监测和治疗，可能导致猝死。该项目是西蒙弗雷泽大学（SFU） Ed Park博士的研究团队与弗雷泽卫生局家庭支持和家庭健康COVID-19规划执行主任Cheryl Beach博士以及临床质量和患者安全主任Fabio Feldman博士的合作。

The goal of the proposed project is to develop a low-cost wearable sensor system for remote and continuous monitoring of COVID-19 patients at home. A sensor system that can continuously and accurately measure comprehensive vital signs will allow home-bound patients and their caregivers to make better and timely decisions as to whether care should be escalated when their health changes gradually or suddenly. Especially, this is relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, where rapidly increasing numbers of patients and long hospitalization durations are imposing stress on the Canadian healthcare system. Such low-cost system for home-bound patients could save lives as Canadian health authorities, including the Fraser Health Authority, prepare for future waves of the COVID-19 outbreak that may emerge once physical distancing measures are eased. Of particular interest is the 'silent hypoxia' cases caused by COVID-19 pneumonia that can lead to sudden death if not properly monitored and treated in a timely manner. This project is a collaboration between Dr. Ed Park's research team at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and the Fraser Health Authority's Dr. Cheryl Beach, Executive Director of Home Support & Home Health COVID-19 Planning, and Dr. Fabio Feldman, Director of Clinical Quality & Patient Safety.