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Ear infection care at home

Finland Distance monitoring
The solution enables parents to monitor their child’s ear’s condition from home. It consists of a measurement device and mobile app that families can buy themselves. Instructions and help are included in the mobile app, and the the follow-up results and measurement history of a child are shown on the phone screen. The measurement is based on acoustical analysis of the ear. City of Oulu has used this solution with families and with doctors that interpret the results.
The solution helps parents in decision making whether or not to see a doctor. Parents learn to interpret the child’s ears condition. There is no need for unnecessary visits to doctor if ear ache is suspected. Solution supports self care and saves health care costs. Use of antibiotics can also be reduced.
Families with children under 10 years, and health care professionals.
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Parents learn to interpret the child’s ear condition and can get confirmation and instructions from the health care professionals without visiting hospital.

Elaboration

Needs and challenges

Ear infection is a typical reason for doctors appointments with small children. It costs both professionals and families time and money, when parents visit the doctors with their children also in situations when ears are not infected.

A new possible challenge is, that parents might rely too much on the information provided by this solution and don’t consult or visit the doctors even when needed.

Solution and function

The solution helps parents in decision making whether or not to see a doctor. Parents learn to interprete child’s ears condition and can get confirmation and instructions from the health care professionals without visiting hospital. The solution includes an ear infection measurement device and a cloud service/mobile app.

The parents can send a message to a doctor via cloud service, when they need a consult about the measurement result. The parents and professionals have their own user interfaces.

The measurement is based on acoustical analysis of the ear. Selection of tiny acoustical stimulus are sent to ear. The response is analyzed with artificial intelligence based data-analysis - producing the image "red-yellow-green" of the ear condition.

Implementation

The solution is easy to implement and does not require national infrastructure.

It can be used by smartphone and by mobile app.

Economy

Resource allocation of healthcare specalist can be newly evaluated after implementation. The solution saves costs for both professionals and families, as unnecessary doctors appointments can be avoided.

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Process

The organization makes a decision to deploy the solution and makes an agreement about the use with the company. The company then informs the professionals how the solution is to be used.

The organization has to name a person who coordinates the anchoring and helps the implementation process. 

More about effects

Self care become possible regardless time or place by using this solution.

Parents can evaluate child’s ear’s situation at home, without visiting the doctor.

Learnings

  • The solution is easy to use with a mobile app and measurement device that is attached to the mobile phone.
  • Interpreting the results is made easy.
  • The user has to have a smartphone (Android). 
  • The solution can be used by families and professionals.
  • Families can provide the solution themselves. 
  • The solution is easy to implement and can be used across borders. 

City of Oulu  

Eila Erkkilä eila.erkkila@ouka.fi 

Jaana Kokko jaana.A.kokko@ouka.fi 

Otometri / Ear infection care at home 

CEO Dr. Tech. Manne Hannula, manne.hannula@otometri.fi 

 +358 45 321 9440 (Distribution contracts and key customer sales) 

 +358 45 328 9100 (Customer Service)  

Ollilantie 4, Kempele
Oulu 90440 Finland