NYT Medical Editorial in Favor of Pulse Oximeters at Home for COVID

[McCamy Taylor]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/opinion/coronavirus-testing-pneumonia.html?algo=top_conversion&fellback=false&imp_id=739992318&imp_id=648584248&action=click&module=Most%20Popular&pgtype=Homepage

[hlthe2b]

1. I totally agree, but these are now going to be the next "toilet tissue" in terms of availability and

price gouging. BTW, those who think they must maintain perfectly manicured and fake nails right now, you will be SOL. These devices do not record accurately with layers of lacquer, fake nails, or exceedingly long natural nails. Just sayin. Pick your priority.

[Nay]

10. Oximeters are already sold out here.

[RandiFan1290]

2. A lot of cell phones already have an O2 meter built in.

[LeftInTX]

3. Wow!!!!!

I did not know this!!

I wonder how accurate they are. Pulse ox has to fit around your finger to work.

[jmg257]

4. My C-19 SIL used one the whole time (she was in bed 4weeks+). Definitely very helpful,

especially when trying to get up to do even basic stuff.

[ProfessorGAC]

5. Um, Sorry To Go Contrary

But, these things are $30 to $200 bucks, and we've got 10 million newly unemployed households.
Was this the best time to scare people into getting a gadget they can barely afford?

[hlthe2b]

7. Medical grade are $200. Athletic grade, $30. Of course demand will entice hoarding & cost gouging

In a more responsible society, these devices would be readily available and even provided to "at-risk" patients quarantining at home and especially COVID-19 positive patients home-isolating. The athletic grade devices are sufficiently accurate for detecting significant changes in SO2 that would be VERY clinically relevant.

[helpisontheway]

8. I tried to get one in town for weeks. Finally found one of Amazon thatcould be

delivered in 5 days. $44...Worth it..

[MineralMan]

9. We already had one. It belonged to my wife's mother, before she died.

New batteries and it works just fine. I had forgotten it until that story in the NYT, so i dug it out and installed new batteries, and tested it on myself. We'll keep it around, along with our digital thermometer, just in case.