An app created by Stanford Medicine in partnership with Apple helps first responders get access to drive-thru coronavirus tests.
The app is currently for use by firefighters, police officers, and paramedics, but there’s hope that the program will be later made available to other key workers.
First Responder COVID-19 Guide has some similarities to the coronavirus screening service Alphabet’s Verily healthcare brand launched last month. Like with Verily’s website, there’s a questionnaire in which the person is asked to answer questions about their symptoms, exposure to the coronavirus and medical history. If the app recommends they get tested, the first responder then talks to their department’s “infection control officer,” who will work with Stanford to schedule an appointment. As a plus, first responders don’t need to be past Stanford Health Care patients to access testing.
The app highlights the critical need for additional testing capacity throughout the US, but particularly so in California, which has screened fewer people per capita than states like New York and Washington. According to CNBC, Stanford can currently test approximately 2,500 people per day after researchers at the university developed their own COVID-19 test in March.
“If we have a first responder who has symptoms, it’s really important for them to get screened and potentially test it because they’re going to be very patient-facing and very community-facing. That’s what their jobs are,” Dr. Bob Harrington, chairman of the Stanford Department of Medicine, said in an interview with CNBC.
The app is currently only available in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties Verily’s screening service was initially only available in those areas as well. However, Stanford wants to expand its availability to additional counties. Similarly, it wants to open it up to other frontline workers, such as grocery store clerks and public service employees.
Apple’s involvement is key to privacy, says the university.
The app uses Apple’s ResearchKit and CareKit software, which are designed to help developers handle sensitive medical data. All data from the app stays on the patient’s device unless they share it with a health provider, Stanford said.
Drive-thru coronavirus tests are designed to minimize the risk of infecting either party: those being tested, and those doing the testing.
