A new device is helping cancer patients take charge of their treatment. This easy-to-use kit allows them to do blood tests from home instead of going to the hospital.
Here are the key things to know:
- Cancer patients often need regular blood tests during treatment
- Going to the hospital for tests can be stressful and time-consuming
- The new “Liberty” device lets patients do a simple finger prick test at home
- Results get sent right to the doctor, no more long waits at the hospital
- Patients say having control over testing makes a big difference
Imagine skipping those dreaded waits at the hospital for blood tests. Pretty amazing, right? Let’s take a closer look.
Easy Home Testing for Cancer Patients
Lynn has been battling cancer for 7 long years. During treatment, she had to constantly go to the hospital for blood tests, scans, and appointments with her doctor. She says it was “exhausting physically and mentally” with new appointments every day.
The worst part was getting stuck at the hospital for hours just waiting for blood test results. Lynn doesn’t like needles, and the stress would make her feel faint sometimes. She spent too much time away from home and her beloved cat Sunny.
But recently, Lynn got to try out a new home testing device called Liberty. It’s helped give her back control over her treatment and time.
How the Home Testing Kit Works
Liberty is really easy to use. With a quick finger prick, Lynn can do her required blood test at home whenever is convenient for her. No more dreaded waits at the hospital!
The device analyzes the blood sample right away. Then it securely sends Lynn’s results to her doctor over the internet. Her care team gets updated instantly without Lynn having to go anywhere.
Lynn loves the freedom Liberty gives her. “I can do my blood test and go do something else while it’s being analyzed,” she says. Best of all, she doesn’t have to keep getting reminded of her cancer by constantly being at the hospital.
Putting Patients First with Simple Technology
Freedom from constant hospital visits is a game-changer. Many cancer patients deal with feeling exhausted, weak, and sick from treatments like chemotherapy.
Not having the extra stress and time burden of going to the hospital for something as routine as a blood test makes a huge difference. “It’s just one less worry when you’re already going through so much,” said one patient.
The Liberty kit was developed by the entia company to improve quality of life for cancer patients. “We’re not trying to over-medicalize patients,” says the CEO. “We want to give them more control and let them stay in the comfort of home.”
Doctors are excited too. At the Christie hospital, they say the home testing is just as accurate as laboratory tests. More importantly, patients find the simple device “highly acceptable” and easy to use.
Bringing Testing Services Into Communities
While still early, the success of Liberty points to a bigger trend in healthcare. Rather than having to go to a central hospital for everything, more services are being sent out into communities where patients live.
For example, the Christie hospital set up local test sites so patients have options closer to home. But even that requires travel and waits. With Liberty, zero travel is needed at all! Patients can get quality care right at home.
Home testing “results in huge efficiencies” for overstressed medical systems, said one doctor. It frees up waiting rooms and staff resources at hospitals too.
Of course, not every test can be done from home yet. And some patients may still prefer the traditional clinic experience. But for many procedures like routine blood tests and check-ins, home-based care could become the new normal thanks to smart tech like Liberty.
Looking Ahead to Patient-Centered Healthcare
Even with early success stories, it will likely be a while before at-home testing becomes widespread across the medical system. There are a lot of cancer patients who could potentially benefit.
But companies like entia are already looking at expanding home testing to other use cases beyond cancer too. The bigger goal? Centering healthcare around the patient’s needs and lifestyle as much as possible.
Devices like Liberty show it’s possible to put patients more in control using simple technology. For people like Lynn battling tough diseases, that little bit of freedom and comfort can make a world of difference.
Does home-based medical testing sound like something you’d feel comfortable with? Or do you prefer going into a clinic or hospital for appointments? Let me know your thoughts!
