COVID-19 ECHO Session #27: Digital Solutions Supporting Healthcare Providers & Stakeholders


October 15, 2020

On 14 October, 2020 ASLM’s LabCoP dedicated a special session to digital solutions in support of health care providers, systems, and stakeholders, and how they have been applicable to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is increasingly clear that adopting digital technology and integrating it into Ministries of Health (MoH) policy is key for smooth coordination and data management in the fight against COVID-19. These tools provide local innovative solutions needed to help curb the impact of COVID-19 in resource-poor settings, to improve quality. In this session, Aafke de Graaff, Director of SafeCare, introduces the SafeCare4COVID app that addresses a lack of data on preparedness and supplies for governments and health care networks, to inform decisions. Their goal is to help healthcare workers avoid facility-based infections and avoid the spread of COVID-19 by providing practical information, data and tools, and to set up and maintain up-to-date processes and knowledge to manage COVID-19. Clement Prince Tuyisabe, Partnership Development Manager at SAVICS, discusses an active case-finding tool called MediScout. The tool has been utilised in communities for contact tracing of tuberculosis (TB) infections, using a mobile phone by CHWs. MediScout is a data-driven, resource-efficient approach for active case finding and contact tracing solutions, based on web and mobile apps, built to support planning and tracking of community-based surveillance, and enables timely identification of high-risk patients. Haynes Sheppard, CEO at edgeDx discusses the use-case of the Node, a connectivity device designed for connecting data and devices across the health ecosystem. The Node is co-developed by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) after CHAI identified deficiencies in the landscape of available connectivity solutions, and created by the Target Product Profile (TPP). This initiative recognizes the need to digitize and automate data flow, which eventually improves patient care, organises central planning, and improves monitoring and evaluation practices. The Node is an open-source, wireless device, designed to collect, aggregate, store, view, and share diagnostic results. Please follow the links posted here to view the recorded video session on ASLM’s YouTube channel and download the presentation slides from the session. ASLM does not endorse any product in the global market over another, and the only purpose of this session is to inform.