HumanITcare and VitalAire Brazil are using Garmin wearables to help revolutionise remote monitoring of patients who rely on long-term oxygen therapy, potentially resulting in timely interventions and personalised care — all from the comfort of patients’ homes.
A recent collaboration between connected health company, HumanITcare, and global leader in service and support for home oxygen therapy, VitalAire, a segment of Air Liquide in Brazil, and Garmin, a global leading provider in smartwatches, has made waves in the monitoring of patients with chronic diseases. The project, VitalSign, focuses on VitalAire’s goal of effectively monitoring and treating patients undergoing long-term oxygen therapy at home, ultimately allowing for timely interventions and personalised care. Continuous accessibility to track patients’ vital health metrics is made possible by utilisation of the Garmin Venu® Sq smartwatch and the integrated Garmin Health SDK.
A Groundbreaking Collaboration
The team at VitalAire Brazil was looking for a comprehensive and interoperable remote patient monitoring platform that allowed for continuous monitoring vital signs, including heart rate¹ and oxygen saturation levels² and detecting possible decompensations through AI. This data potentially could help with the early detection of any potential health issues in chronic respiratory diseases. The interoperable API solution offered by HumanITcare delivers exactly this kind of a comprehensive platform which is also considered a medical product and additionally offers communication channels with patients as a secure chat, push notifications with patients and an integrated care solution. The platform can be seamlessly integrated with smart devices, in this case, the Venu Sq smartwatch.
HumanITcare also leveraged the Garmin Health SDK to ensure compatibility between the Venu Sq and their healthcare monitoring platform. This integration enables seamless access to the data collected on the smartwatch, allowing users to conveniently view and manage all their health information within the platform. Moreover, the user can chat with the medical team and receive feedback from them remotely.
Empowering Patients and Healthcare Professionals with Garmin Technology
Garmin Venu Sq was chosen as the device of choice for VitalSign project for numerous reasons, including:
- The range of health data available for collection, such as oxygen saturation, heart rate monitoring and physical activity tracking
- The suitability of the smartwatch for chronic disease patients, especially regarding ease of use and comfortable wearability
- The high-quality standards and reliability in tracking health metrics that Garmin smartwatches and fitness trackers are known for
When worn by patients, the Venu Sq smartwatch collects the relevant health data, which is wirelessly transmitted to a centralised HumanITcare medical AI platform. Here, healthcare professionals can access and analyse it. This allows for continuous monitoring and can help in the early detection of any potential health issues.
The collected information is readily available on VitalAire’s dashboard records system, providing easy access for healthcare professionals. The combination of the Garmin advanced technology and HumanITcare’s platform enhances the quality of care and empowers both patients and healthcare professionals in the remote monitoring process by using AI.
A Combination for Success
Overall, the combination of Garmin tracking capabilities and the comprehensive remote patient monitoring platform offered by HumanITcare enables VitalAire Brazil to monitor chronic diseases patients and offer personalised care.
Moreover, this technology can be utilised in various healthcare settings, including home care, telemedicine, chronic disease management and post-operative monitoring. By leveraging the capabilities of Garmin smartwatches and fitness trackers, patients are provided with a seamless and convenient experience, enabling the patients to receive care while maintaining their daily routines.
“Our collaboration with Garmin revolutionises remote patient monitoring, enabling continuous tracking of vital signs through their innovative wearables and quality data. By leveraging the Garmin technology and health insights, we offer an AI based solution that enhances patient care, improves outcomes and promotes proactive healthcare management. Together, we are shaping the future of personalised health, providing a new standard of care and convenient healthcare for patients around the world,” said Nuria Pastor, CEO of HumanITcare.
HumanITcare was a speaker at the Garmin Health Summit 2023, which took place in Singapore 9-10 November. Further information and a review of this successful event can be found in our press release.
Want to learn more about related projects? Visit https://www.garmin.com/health/ for more information or check out the latest research projects with Garmin.
