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. 2021 Nov:2:100186.
doi: 10.1016/j.puhip.2021.100186. Epub 2021 Aug 27.

Addressing silent hypoxemia with COVID-19: Implementation of an outpatient pulse oximetry program in Vermont

Marlowe Galbraith  1   2 , Patsy Kelso  1 , Mark Levine  1 , Richard C Wasserman  1   3 , Jessica Sikka  1   3 , Jennifer S Read  1   3
Affiliations

Addressing silent hypoxemia with COVID-19: Implementation of an outpatient pulse oximetry program in Vermont

Marlowe Galbraith et al. Public Health Pract (Oxf). 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: We initiated an outpatient pulse oximetry program to facilitate more rapid detection of clinical deterioration of persons with COVID-19.

Methods: Vermont residents in non-congregate settings with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were eligible for inclusion.

Results: Acceptance of pulse oximetry occurred more frequently among those who were older or symptomatic, spoke English, or who had underlying medical conditions.

Conclusions: We provide the first description of an outpatient pulse oximetry program for COVID-19 by a state health department in the U.S.

Keywords: COVID-19; Outpatient; Pulse oximetry.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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