As a nurse I have worked in healthcare for over ten years advocating for integration of mobile apps & wearables with healthcare electronic records.
I'm 100% certain that your company could help patient's who come into the hospital and in some cases save their very lives.
And it’s doable by integrating the Fitbit data with patient's electronic medical records. When this happens, this will be one of the most important technological advancements we've seen in our lifetime.
It can be done.
Fitbit- you can either lead this change that saves lives or you can sit back and be the follower until a more bold and better wearables company gets the gall to do it.
Ok, let me explain what I mean by Fitbit creating something that could change and save peoples lives. So, know how Fitbit has the current technology to recognize when you're "restless" vs. asleep and can track what times during the night?
Fitbit is therefore capable of further developing this feature to recognize the moment of onset someone suffers a stroke or heart attack.
Lets say someone has their fitbit on and they're home alone do laundry. They suddenly feel that intense pain in their head and it’s a strok instantly causing them to fall to the ground. They’re alone laying on the ground for an unknown amount of time until their son stops by and find them on the ground and calls 911. And I’ve been the nurse standing their at the doors of the E.R when that person comes in on the gurney.
When I see these patients I can almost hear the clock immediately start ticking because we have very little time to act to save them. There’s a medication that’s been extremely effective to save stroke patient’s lives or prevent them from suffering life long conditions that debilitate them. However, the downside to this medication (named TPA) is that there’s a very narrow window that it can be given, too much time passes and it can do more harm than help or not work. But when it’s given in that “window”, it saves people’s lives. Truly.
So with fitbit, the moment that patient rolls in on the gurney I could sync their device to my electronic medical chart. I'd immediately have the data to track when and how long ago they fell to the ground. I would be able to know down to the minute how much time we had left to give TPA before it was too late. This vital information is what could SAVE THOUSANDS OF LIVES! DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND??
Therefore Fitbit employees and all others reading this, let me remind you that we are not immune to this example I give. Some of you will suffer heart attacks or maybe a close friend or parent a stroke…it can happen in an instant. And if it does, will you remember reading this and think "if only”? "If only I’d clicked to vote yes.” "If only I’d taken the time to write a response in support of this.” If only. Maybe they could have lived. But the good news is it’s not too late. WE CAN DO THIS. NOW.
So common! Start “taking those steps!”
“BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD”
I’ll be standing with you in this and I look forward to the day when I have more stroke patients that leave the hospital within a few days than those who never leave.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Spread the word.
-Kate RN
Moderator edit: modified labels & Clarified subject
Kate N, BSN, RN
Join us on the Community Forums!
Community Guidelines
Learn the Basics
Join the Community!
Not finding your answer on the Community Forums?
Go to the Help Site
Contact Support