Healthcare Internet of Things system implementations for COVID-19 prevention

Background In response to the widespread transmission of COVID-19 in Australia, healthcare facilities implemented stringent infection control measures, and mandatory and manual screening procedures were introduced to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare staff. However, these necessary measures resulted in imbalances within the healthcare system, a shortage of front-line workers and impacts on patient experience and wait times. The prioritization of infection control measures shifted resources away from routine care, causing delays in accessing necessary healthcare services. Methods and Findings To address these challenges, we developed and implemented an Internet of Things (IoT) Smart Screening eGate solution in partnership with a large metropolitan children’s hospital in Australia. This solution integrated a contactless health self-service web app, thermal camera, and physical barrier to automate the COVID-19 health screening and data recording process. During the 3-month pilot period, we deployed the eGate at multiple entrances to the hospital, and monitored the number of users of the system in different periods. We also used a framework of formative evaluation to classify user design challenges within limited resources and improved the design of the eGate to enhance its effectiveness. Our findings show that the IoT eGate solution improved the efficiency of the screening process and reduced the workload and exposure risks of front-line staff and anyone who required access to the hospital. By automating the screening process, we reduced the need for manual screening and minimized contact between individuals, thus reducing the risk of potentially infected. Conclusion In conclusion, our pilot study demonstrated the potential of IoT technologies in improving the efficiency and safety of medical facilities during pandemics and provided a series of recommendations for the translation of IoT technologies for medical facilities, including the importance of co-design and collaboration with stakeholders, user-centered design, and ongoing monitoring and evaluation.