What Is a TytoCare Device?
Key takeaways:
Medical technologies like the TytoCare device help people gather health information remotely to share with their healthcare providers.
The TytoCare device can evaluate many different health issues, including an ear infection, fever, and sore throat.
The TytoCare device is limited in what it can do. You may still need to see your healthcare provider in person or complete additional tests.
It's 8 A.M. and your child overslept. When you check on them, they're warm to the touch. You immediately wonder what's wrong. Do you need to call out of work? Will you be able to get a walk-in visit with the pediatrician? Moments like this happen to every parent.
So what if there was a device that allows you to assess your or your child's health, and immediately share the results with your healthcare provider? This would help you get the treatment you or your child needs quickly. One company, TytoCare, created a product that does just that. TytoCare can evaluate many health issues, from ear infections to sore throats.
The TytoCare device is just one example of how companies are making advances in healthcare through digital health technology.
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Read on to learn more about the TytoCare device and what situations you can use it for.
How does a TytoCare device work?
The TytoCare medical exam kit is a handheld device that enables you to take health measurements. And it works like the most common tools in your healthcare provider’s office.
Some of these tools include:
A built-in camera to take pictures and video of the eyes, skin,ears, mouth, and throat.
Acts as a stethoscope to listen to the sounds of your heart, lungs, and abdomen
Takes your temperature
Measures your heart rate
The TytoCare device has an app that you download to your phone. You'll use the app to describe what symptoms you (or someone in your family) is experiencing. Then, based on these symptoms, the app will tell you what information to gather using the TytoCare device. There are videos that can show you how to do this. You can also receive a phone call from someone at TytoCare if you need help.
You can either use the device during a video visit with your healthcare provider or on your own. If you’re using it on a video call, you're basically doing the physical exam that your provider would normally do in their office. They may instruct you to point the camera at specific places they want to examine.
If you use a TytoCare device on your own, any information you gather (like videos and images) can be sent to your provider immediately after you’re done.
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What situations can I use a TytoCare device for?
The TytoCare device can help your healthcare provider diagnose several common health problems. But, there’s no definitive list of what specific conditions the TytoCare device can help your provider diagnose. Still, we know what parts of the body the TytoCare device can examine, so this gives us insight as to what medical conditions the TytoCare device can help evaluate.
What attachments come with the TytoCare device?
When you buy the TytoCare device kit, it comes with a device that has a camera and a thermometer. It also comes with three attachments: an otoscope to see into the ears, a stethoscope to listen to heart and lung sounds, and a tongue depressor to examine the throat.
Suppose your child says their ears hurt. With the TytoCare device, you can attach the otoscope adapter to the device and take photos inside the ear. Your provider can use the images to see if your child has an ear infection.
Other conditions the TytoCare device can help your provider evaluate include:
Sore throats
Congestion
Cough
Fevers
Breathing issues
Stomach aches
Eye irritation
Allergies
Skin issues including rashes, cuts, and bug bites
I used my TytoCare device. What now?
Since the TytoCare device itself can't make a diagnosis, the measurements you take need to be interpreted by a healthcare provider. Ask your healthcare provider if they are able to do a virtual visit while you use the TytoCare device. If they aren’t, there are many different telehealth services that are able to provide care to people using the TytoCare device.
The benefit of the TytoCare device is that if your medical issue can be diagnosed from home, you don’t have to spend time getting to a clinic. But if the TytoCare device can't give enough information about your health issue, or your provider thinks more tests are needed, you’ll need to be seen in person.
What can't a TytoCare device do?
The TytoCare device is a beneficial tool and can help many people avoid a visit to their healthcare provider’s office. But, it does have some limitations. These include:
The device itself cannot make a diagnosis. A healthcare provider is still required to make a diagnosis using information gathered from the TytoCare device.
You may still need treatment for your medical issue. The device only gathers information about your health, but it doesn’t provide treatment options. If you need medication or more tests, your healthcare provider will have to prescribe or order these for you.
There’s some information the TytoCare device cannot gather. For example, the TytoCare device cannot check your blood, so it can’t tell you if you have high cholesterol. These are situations in which you may need further tests or in-person evaluation by your healthcare provider.
How much does a TytoCare device cost and where can I buy one?
You can purchase the TytoCare device online, at some stores, and at some healthcare provider offices. The product costs around $300. There are additional costs for disposable accessories.
You can use a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to cover the device and accessories. Virtual visits with your healthcare provider, or any telehealth platform, may be covered by your insurance. You can call your insurance company to see if they’ll cover the device and telehealth visits. Ask your insurance if any providers in your network accept virtual visits with patients using the TytoCare device.
Are there any alternatives to a TytoCare device?
The TytoCare device isn't the first diagnostic digital health tool available to use at home. Other devices can do things like look in the eye and listen to heart sounds. And some consumer medical devices can do things that the TytoCare device can’t do, like check your blood sugars without drawing blood.
Some devices with similar functions to the TytoCare device come as a kit with multiple devices. This means it’s not an “all-in-one” device like TytoCare.
The bottom line
If you like the idea of an at-home tool that can evaluate some medical issues, the TytoCare device might be something you want to purchase. The device gathers information about your health, and a healthcare provider can make a diagnosis without you ever having to go into their office. But, the device is limited in what it can do, and sometimes you’ll need to see your provider in person or complete more tests. Talk to your insurance company to see if they’ll cover the cost of the TytoCare device, and make sure your healthcare provider knows how to work with it. If they don’t, you’ll need to find a provider who does.
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References
Eko Devices. (n.d). The stethoscope that works as hard as you.
McDaniel, N. L., et al. (2019). Comparison of a novel handheld telehealth device with stand-alone examination tools in a clinic setting. Telemedicine Journal and e-health.
MedWand Solutions. (n.d). Clinically accurate vitals capture.
TytoCare. (n.d). All you need to know to use TytoHome.
TytoCare. (n.d.). Home.
TytoCare. (2021). TytoHome general operation user guide.
