Pulse oximeters, or useful information for Covid patients
Poczta Polska couriers have already delivered over 500,000 pulse oximeters, and 220,000 devices have been returned. Appropriate and in accordance with instructions, the returning patient securing the device is crucial to ensuring complete safety and the smooth continuation of the delivery program to additional COVID patients in need. Poczta Polska reminds that pulse oximeters are only delivered to patients registered in the DOM program and who are reported by a Ministry of Health unit, such as a primary care physician.
The distribution of pulse oximeters by Poczta Polska takes place as part of the Home Medical Care program implemented by the Ministry of Health (DOM www.gov.pl/dom ).
The DOM program is a remote monitoring system for COVID-19 patients whose health allows for home isolation. It enables the rapid detection of patients who, due to deteriorating health, should be referred for hospital treatment. Diagnostics include monitoring of saturation levels (i.e., the saturation of arterial blood with oxygen), heart rate, temperature, and symptoms. Patients receive pulse oximeters and use the system to transmit and monitor data to the DOM Contact Center via the PulsoCare app – more information is available here .
Patients over 55 years of age who have received confirmation of a positive COVID-19 test result are automatically included in the DOM program. Pulse oximeters will be delivered to them by Poczta Polska courier immediately after receiving a notification from the unit implementing the program within the Ministry of Health.
Patients under 55 years of age who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing a progressive deterioration in their health should complete the PulsoCare form . After registration, they will receive confirmation of their enrollment in the program and a pulse oximeter.
Detailed instructions for using the pulse oximeter are provided to each patient along with the device. The sealed envelope in which the pulse oximeter is packaged contains information and instructions on how to properly prepare the device for return after quarantine.
Poczta Polska, under an agreement with the Ministry of Health, handles both deliveries and returns of pulse oximeters. Pulse oximeters are delivered via courier. Convalescents have two options for returning the device: pickup by courier or, as of February of this year, personal delivery to one of 4,600 PP facilities, offices, and branches (excluding postal agencies).
After completing their isolation, recovered patients should remember to properly prepare their pulse oximeter for return. If any of the required return items are missing from the package—for example, the foil envelope with the return label—the patient should report this via the dedicated Ministry of Health hotline, app, or email— information is available here . The courier will then provide the recovered patient with the appropriate return packaging before asking them to place the device in a secure box.
The pulse oximeter will be collected, either by a Poczta Polska courier or by an employee of the facility to which the patient personally delivers the device, after confirming that the pulse oximeter's packaging is properly packaged according to the instructions. Appropriate handling by the recovered patient making the return is crucial to ensuring complete safety and the smooth continuation of the delivery program to other COVID-19 patients in need.
To date, under the contract with the Ministry of Health, Poczta Polska has delivered over 500,000 pulse oximeters, and 220,000 have been returned. The Ministry of Health covers the costs of the program. Delivery, use, monitoring, and return of the device are free of charge for the patient.