People with COVID-19 who are seen by Washington University physicians or BJC Medical Group providers, but not sick enough to be hospitalized, can be enrolled in an in-home health monitoring program. With daily check-ins for each patient via smartphone app or phone call, the program helps medical professionals identify signs of worsening illness early so they can intervene and, ideally, keep patients out of the hospital.
A team of BJC and Washington University staff idled by the cancellation of nonurgent medical procedures make the daily phone check-ins and flag any worrisome responses. The app works the same way. Nurses or medical assistants follow up with a phone call and, if necessary, schedule a telemedicine visit with a doctor or nurse practitioner, or advise the patient to come to the hospital for further care.