People could spend less time in hospital, thanks to a smart new remote device that lets patients be monitored at home, Health Minister Andrew Little says.

“Technology has the potential to really change the way we do things – to do things that are better for patients and at the same time ease pressure on the health system,” Andrew Little said in Timaru today.

“Several countries are already using BioStickers and now they are being trialled here to see what they can do for New Zealanders.”

Biostickers are 85mm long, made of soft flexible material and are worn on the upper left chest. They capture medical-grade data, such as skin temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate, which is transmitted to the medical professionals who are treating the patients.

Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand is running six-month trials of BioStickers in Counties Manukau and South Canterbury. So far, they have been used to monitor 50 people in Counties Manukau with COVID-19, while in South Canterbury, 10 people have been given monitors to see how they can help keep rural people be cared for at home.

“It’s particularly important that new ways of doing things are tested in rural places as well as cities, which is why I’m pleased to see the trial for myself in Timaru today,” Andrew Little said.

“Early feedback is that people using these devices is that they like being at home instead of in hospital, and with the devices on they feel safe.

“Health technologies are changing all the time, and we need to think about how we can use it to work smarter to help all New Zealanders get the healthcare they need. That’s what our reforms of the health system are all about.”

Contact for Minister Little: Adelia Hallett 021 802 905

What are Biostickers?

BioStickers are from a company in the United States called BioIntelliSense. They are US Food and Drug Administration-approved devices that are worn continuously on the upper left chest, capturing medical grade data capture and insights. This includes advanced analytics and data services for early detection of adverse trends.

The devices continuously monitor skin temperature, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, gait analysis, body position and has personalised trending alerts. These devices are 85mm long, 35cm wide and has a battery life of 30+ days. They are made of a soft flexible material and are attached to the chest by a double sided medical tape.

There is a large on-board memory storage with data being transmitted through Bluetooth wireless data transmission.

This company has just received the 2022 Gold Winner in Best Biometrics Innovation in Healthcare in the USA by Jupiter Research. The device transmits up to 1440 vital signs measurements daily, into a platform where the information is collated and displayed.

These devices are being used in many other countries, such as United Arab Emirates, and particularly in the United States, where they are being used in ambulatory care, acute care, post-acute care and remote care settings. The Counties Manukau and South Canterbury projects are the first time these devices have been used in New Zealand.

What is the potential ie, how many people could they be used for and what impact could this have in terms of easing pressure on hospitals and improving patient health?

Our projects are seeking to understand what groups of patients would most benefit from these devices.

We think that benefits will include earlier discharge from hospital, waiting room management, reduced hospital avoidance, support for unwell people in the community eg post cardiac surgery, chemotherapy, those with long-term health conditions and for frail older people.

The potential to target services means the health sector can focus on the early identification of changing health needs, and thereby earlier intervention.

Remote patient monitoring technology is potentially one of numerous pieces of technology that will improve health services. This technology space is fruitful and potentially there are many technology solutions that could be part of the digital ecosystem moving forwards. One of the BioSticker’s strengths is the passive collection of information without the patient needing to do anything.

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