In a bid to boost the efficiency of COVID-19 management in Goa, the state government on Thursday decided to rope in the technology of the IVR (interactive voice response) system to monitor the condition of home isolated patients across the territory. The state Health Secretary informed that this automation will help the state keep track of the steeply rising patient load in the coastal state. A private agency has been commissioned to set up the new system, he further informed.
Automatic system to track COVID patients in Goa
The state of Goa has taken a step forward to upgrade its COVID monitoring systems amid the increasing swell of home isolated patients across the state. Until now, the administration was relying on war rooms to contact each patient individually and keep a track of their health status, however, it was proving to be a task in view of the rising number of active cases.
The state Health Secretary stated, “We have around 18,500 people in home isolation as of now. Recently when home isolation cases went up, it was becoming difficult to call each and everyone and track their status as frequently as we would have liked. So the government took a decision to go for a technology-based system to regularly track and follow up with patients under home isolation.”
Private agency ‘Step 1’ has been selected and roped in by the Government to set up the IVR system. The firm is also providing this service to about 11 states on a charitable basis. “The only cost to the government is the call charges that will be paid directly to BSNL,” the official informed.
IVR system will be made in three languages in Goa
COVID-19 patients in home isolation will be receiving calls from the IVR from the second to the tenth day of infection. It will check on the patients by a set of five questions, related to oxygen blood saturation, temperature and other symptoms, such as chest pain, breathlessness or cold and cough more than 3 times in an interval of 24 hours.
“We’ve taken care to ensure that since all will not know English, the calls will be made in three languages- English Hindi or Konkani”, the secretary informed. The rationale is to ensure that patients whose health condition is deteriorating, do not get worse. As per his statement, the service will be launched on Saturday.
