RXBOX: THE BOX RE-IMAGINED
By: Pamela Jade N. De La Pena
A box without a purpose is just a box. But what if a box can tell something about you, something about your health? This is what the Department of Science and Technology thought when they decided to give the box a purpose and called it RxBox. How can this box have a purpose when it is just a box? Imagine during this pandemic, you’re a just in the comforts your home unable to go anywhere due to the restriction impost while this box had reach thousands of people providing life-saving services in disadvantaged communities nationwide. The purpose of this box is to give less fortunate members of the community better access to health care services. It is an ICT design to promote DOH’s advocacy for “Kalusugang Pangkalahatan.”
The RxBox is a game-changer for the disadvantaged people who are unable to get immediate and affordable health facility and services near them. RxBox reduces the costly hospital and medical visit which enables healthcare workers to diagnose, monitor and treat patients in rural facilities.
RxBox has sensors inside to capture medical signals, stores data in an electronic medical record system (Community Health Information Tracking System-CHITS), and transmits health information via internet into a clinical specialist in the Philippines. It also promotes local referral systems by facilitating teleconsultations within the National Telehealth Service Program.
The RxBox Consist of the following Equipments:
- Blood pressure monitor – measures the patient’s blood pressure to detect cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels) problems especially hypertension, a disease which can also worsen other chronic lifestyle disease conditions.
- Pulse oximeter –measures the level of oxygen in the patient’s blood and can help detect lung and cardiovascular problems – leading causes of death among Filipinos.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) – monitors the heart’s movement to pump blood throughout the body, helpful for those with acute and chronic heart problems, including pregnant mothers with cardiovascular problems.
- Fetal heart monitor – measures the baby’s heart rate while in the womb, helping detect fetal distress at critical times of the pregnancy and delivery.
- Maternal tocometer –measures the strength of a mother’s uterine contractions during labor and delivery, enabling early detection of distress to the mother and/or the baby.
- Temperature sensor – measures a patient’s body temperature. It can help detect fever, a common medical sign of infection and other disease conditions.
