This newly approved device might help you get your kids diagnosed faster, skipping the doctor or ER

A photograph of the new Kix360° Vitals device N9+ provided by the company.

A Canadian digital pediatric health-care platform has launched a new diagnostic device to help families get tailored treatment for their children faster.

According to a news release published last Thursday, the new device, named “Kix360° Vitals N9+,” is a nine-in-one home diagnostic device that is paired with “pediatric clinician-led virtual care.”

The online platform, which provides round-the-clock virtual physical and mental health services, is designed to treat children under the age of 18 across Canada, with the help of clinicians who can diagnose conditions that don’t require a visit to a physician or an emergency room within minutes.

The company says it has served more than 30,000 patients, and has a national team of more than 80 pediatric clinicians through their online platform and application.

“Kix360° Vitals is now live nationwide, powered by Nonagon’s Health Canada and FDA-approved N9+ device, giving families clinical-grade diagnostics and access to expert medical answers from the comfort of their homes,” the news release said.

Ashton Tornton, KixCare’s director of clinical services told CTVNews.ca on Tuesday that this device can give families the quality of results that a clinician can via their stethoscope and autoscope.

“We can really modernize and enhance virtual care and allow families to get what they deserve, all wherever they need it, whenever they need it, using the Health Canada approved device,” Thornton, who is also a mother of two, said.

How does it work?

The new medical device can conduct nine medical assessments: lung, heart, and abdominal sounds; capture ear and throat images; monitor heart rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature; and photograph skin conditions, with a built-in stethoscope, otoscope, and pulse oximeter.

The Kix360° Vitals N9+ device “enables patients to conduct nine clinical-grade physical exams from home, giving KixCare clinicians the data to confidently diagnose common conditions like ear infections, asthma, and tonsillitis,” the company stated.

The nine examines consist of lung, heart, and abdominal sounds; capture ear and throat images; monitor heart rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature; and photograph skin conditions, with a built-in stethoscope, otoscope, and pulse oximeter.

Parents can choose an exam, follow the instructions and have a result in just minutes, the company stated.

According to Thornton, the new device can do a single or multiple assessments, based on what the child is experiencing.

“They will follow the steps that are available to them on the screen, guiding them through, and then they will seamlessly be sent to our clinicians to evaluate and then assess their child, and then give them that diagnosis and clinical information that they need to take care of that,” she said.

“So, whether a child then needs a prescription for an ear infection, we’d be able to do that all from the comfort of the family’s home using the medical device.”

Families can reach out to the KixCare clinicians and registered nurses by using on-demand messaging on the application.

“On-demand care, 24/7, instantly transmitting the health data from the medical device to our clinicians, so that we are able to treat them right away, so that families aren’t waiting for answers,” Thornton explained, adding that this new device doesn’t need any upkeep except for cleaning and charging.

Lack of access for Canadian kids

A report released last September by Deloitte Canada said approximately 1.5 million Canadian children don’t have access to primary care. Additionally, more than 50 per cent of children waiting for life-changing surgeries are waiting longer than what is clinically recommended.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Canadian parents rush their children to the emergency room for common illnesses like ear infections, fevers or stomach bugs, according to a statement from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research last January.

However, “as many as one in four of these emergency department visits is considered avoidable,” the institute said.

‘Interactive experience’

Natasha Scott, a mother of two from Simcoe County, Ont., told CTVNews.ca on Tuesday about how KixCare has changed her and her children’s lives.

“They have always been there to support every single need that I’ve had when it comes to my children’s medical care,” Scott said. “Having the ability to be able to reach out to a qualified medical professional who specializes in pediatric care at all hours of the night is admirable.”

Scott has been using the online platform since she has to commute some distance to see a physician from her home. In addition to that, the wait times range from a week or two before she can bring her kids to the pediatrician or a specialist.

“You want to understand what’s going on, and you don’t necessarily want to be in an emergency room if it’s an unnecessary visit, holding up the line where there are individuals who do need emergency care,” she added.

“If this is an emergency, they’re going to advise us to go to the hospital. If this is something that we can manage at home, they’re going to take us through every step of the way, and they’re also going to follow up,” Scott said, referring to KixCare. “If this is a situation that requires a referral, something that has to be outsourced, they’re on it right away, and they’re compassionate, they’re professional, they’re timely, efficient.”

Scott said the platform has helped her figure out some of the unusual symptoms her children have shown in the past when they’ve had the flu or another common illness.

“When I reach out, a nurse is incredibly reassuring in those moments and securing every step of the way … What we need to be looking for, they’re willing to get on a video call with you,” she said. “It’s an interactive experience all across the board.”