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			 More than 70 patients who were tested for COVID-19 
			at Memorial’s respiratory screening clinic this month at 2950 S. 
			Sixth St. in Springfield received kits from Memorial Home Medical 
			Equipment with devices to monitor blood-oxygen levels, heartbeat, 
			temperature and lung function. 
 “The kits give us some more insight to ensure that patients’ 
			symptoms don’t worsen,” Kimberly Paskiewicz, Memorial Health System 
			administrator of special services, said.
 
 The kits include a peak-flow meter to measure lung function, a 
			spirometer to exercise the lungs, an inhaler, a battery-powered 
			pulse oximeter and, for patients who don’t have one at home, a 
			thermometer, according to Lori Valentine, system director for 
			durable medical goods.
 
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            Along with the kits, patients receive an instruction 
			pamphlet with space to record equipment readings.
 The kits already have assisted health care providers following up by 
			phone in deciding whether patients needed care in a hospital or 
			could safely continue to recover at home, Paskiewicz said.
 
 Some patients also received the at-home kits after being evaluated 
			for mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms in the emergency departments 
			of hospitals operated by the health system in Springfield, Decatur, 
			Jacksonville, Taylorville and Lincoln, she said.
 
            [MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS] |