Intermountain Health is revolutionizing the way jaundice is tested in newborns with a groundbreaking new app that could potentially eliminate the need for painful pokes and blood tests. This innovative Technology, developed in partnership with Norwegian health tech company Picterus AS, utilizes a smartphone’s camera to measure bilirubin levels in babies.
Jaundice, a condition where the skin turns yellow due to high levels of bilirubin in the blood, affects up to 60% of newborns. If left untreated, severe jaundice can lead to brain damage or hearing loss. Currently, over 33,000 babies born in Intermountain Health hospitals are tested for jaundice each year, making this new technology a potential game-changer for families.
The app works by placing a colored-wheel card on the baby’s chest and taking six photos with the smartphone. These images are then uploaded to a server for evaluation, providing accurate measurements without the need for invasive procedures. This new method could not only save time and reduce stress for parents but also drastically improve the care and well-being of newborns.
Camille, a mother of three, shared her experience with traditional jaundice testing, expressing the emotional toll it takes on both parents and infants. She believes that this new technology could alleviate the heartache and stress associated with traditional testing methods.
Intermountain Health researchers are conducting a study on around 300 babies in three hospital sites to ensure the app is effective across all skin tones. This promising development in healthcare technology has the potential to revolutionize newborn care and improve outcomes for thousands of families.
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