Accurate Clinical Tympanic Thermometer Measurement System at NMISA

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-44
Author(s):  
Efrem Kebede Ejigu
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Measurement System ◽  
Black Body ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Ear Canal ◽  
Calibration Laboratory ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Human Body Temperature

Infrared ear thermometers allow users to measure body temperature quickly and non-invasively by inserting a probe into the patient’s ear canal. The effectiveness of tympanic ear thermometers is dependent on how accurate their measurement is. This prompts the demand for accurate and reliable calibration of ear thermometers. Developing capability and providing traceability to the health care facilities in South Africa have become crucial, as there is no calibration laboratory that provides such a service. A standard ear-thermometer black-body source system that is traceable to ITS-90 temperature has been constructed and assembled at the NMISA temperature laboratory. The ITS-90-traceable measurement system developed has a measuring capability of 40 mK (k=2) to 70 mK (k=2) in the temperature range of 35.5 °C to 41.5 °C. At the human body temperature of 37 °C an uncertainty of 45 mK (k=2) is achieved.

scholarly journals Sense (Scents) of South Africa

1999 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-5
Author(s):  
Katherine F. Shepard
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
South African ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Speech Pathology ◽  
African Society ◽  
South African Society ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
The University ◽  
Physiotherapy Education

This paper presents a brief description of some of the author’s perceptions of the land, of physiotherapy education and practice and of the struggle of the nation of South Africa acquired during a 4 week visit in late spring 1997. One week was spent in Cape Town participating in several venues at the International Congress of the South African Society of Physiotherapy. Three weeks were spent at the University of the Witswatersrand in Johannesburg presenting a course in qualitative research to health care colleagues representing the disciplines of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology and occupational health. During the time in Johannesburg several health care facilities were visited including Baragwanath Hospital, Natal Hospital and the Wits Rural Facility and Tinswalo Hospital at Acornhoek.

scholarly journals The role of triage to reduce waiting times in primary health care facilities in the North West province of South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Therese Swart ◽  
Catherina E. Muller ◽  
Tinda Rabie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Waiting Time ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Score System ◽  
North West ◽  
The North ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Cape Triage Score

Background: Worldwide, patients visiting health care facilities in the public health care sector have to wait for attention from health care professionals. In South Africa, the Cape Triage Score system was implemented successfully in hospitals’ emergency departments in the Cape Metropole. The effective utilisation of triage could improve the flow of primary health care (PHC) patients and direct the patients to the right health care professional immediately.Aim: No literature could be traced on the implementation of triage in PHC facilities in South Africa. Consequently, a study addressing this issue could address this lack of information, reduce waiting times in PHC facilities and improve the quality of care.Setting: PHC facilities in a sub-district of the North West province of South Africa.Method: A quantitative, exploratory, typical descriptive pre-test–post-test design was used. The study consisted of two phases. During phase 1, the waiting time survey checklist was used to determine the baseline waiting times. In phase 2, the Cape Triage Score system that triaged the patients and the waiting time survey checklist were used.Results: Data were analysed using Cohen’s effect sizes by comparing the total waiting times obtained in both phases with the waiting time survey checklist. Results indicated no reduction in the overall waiting time; however, there was a practical significance where triage was applied. Referral was much quicker to the correct health professional and to the hospitals.Conclusion: Although the results indicated no reduction in the overall waiting time of patients, structured support systems and triage at PHC facilities should be used to make referral quicker to the correct health professional and to the hospitals.

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