The epoc® Blood Analysis System with epoc NXS Host from Siemens Healthineers is being rolled out across a number of sporting venues in the UK including the Brighton Marathon and a Premier League football club. The system is helping to optimise on-site medical assessments, improve patient pathways and accelerate clinical decision making. Facilitating lab-quality blood testing at the side of the patient in less than one minute, the epoc NXS can identify whether a patient could be treated within a venue, minimising the need to call upon NHS hospital resources.
The use of epoc NXS in sporting environments can reduce the pressure of emergency admissions on healthcare facilities as they continue to address pandemic-related challenges. With sporting professionals or spectators sometimes known to experience low glucose, electrolyte imbalance due to over-exertion, medication, or intoxication, tests at local A&E departments would be required. With the implementation of the epoc NXS, blood tests are instead being taken at the patient’s side, with results in less than one minute aiding diagnosis and rapid clinical decision making.
The epoc NXS is a handheld, wireless solution that facilitates comprehensive blood analysis testing at the patient’s side on a singular test card. The system allows medical teams to examine blood in a non-clinical environment and efficiently diagnose, treat, or direct patients who have collapsed, fainted, or feel generally unwell towards correct intervention or further testing in a medical setting.
The device was used to test sodium levels and kidney function of participants of the 2021 Brighton Marathon and will be utilised in the event again this year. Premier League football club, Brighton and Hove Albion are also employing the epoc Blood Analysis System with epoc NXS Host to support on-site crowd doctors in managing unwell spectators. Continued use at the 30,000 capacity AMEX Stadium in Brighton is expected to improve patient care efficiency and prevent unnecessary trips to healthcare facilities by football spectators.
“The epoc Blood Analysis System with epoc NXS Host is hugely beneficial for sporting events. The system’s rapid and ergonomic interface enables a quick clinical diagnosis for the patient, supporting optimised care pathways and improved outcomes. Unwell patients can wait for around six hours in A&E to receive tests and results, whilst the epoc system can test, produce results and enable doctors to diagnose a patient within 15 minutes, instead of relying on secondary NHS resources,” states Dr Rob Galloway, Crowd Doctor and Stadium Medical Advisor for Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club. “A recent example is a football fan who fainted at the AMEX stadium. The system enabled us to check their sodium and haemoglobin levels and we were able to confirm they were okay, meaning they could be discharged and resume watching the match.”
“With A&E waiting times and NHS resources under pressure, there is a need to support the reduction of hospital admissions where possible. Government initiatives, such as the establishment of community diagnostic centres across the country, will help but a range of other clinical tools are also at our disposal,” states Stewart Hutton, Head of Diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers GB&I. “With the epoc Blood Analysis System, we bring comprehensive blood analysis testing to the patient’s side, often negating the need for hospital admission, and it’s pleasing to see that a variety of sporting events and venues are already seeing the benefit.”