Independent Perspective #1621

Guest:  Kimberly Naus

Topic:  TRAID Project Kardia Mobile Personal EKG Monitor

Duration:  05:48

Published:  October 29, 2020

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Kimberly Naus, Director of the University of Buffalo’s (UB) Center for Assistive Technology (CAT), and your host is yours truly Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Kim.

Guest:  Thank you for having me, Ernie.

Host:  And you're going to be telling us about a very intriguing mobile device. But first, we're obliged to let you mention that it is TRAID that encourages you to be here and in case people missed your last appearance just what is that?

Guest:  TRAID is the acronym, and it's spelled T-R-A-I-D, and it stands for Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities. It is a federally funded program so it's good to know that your tax dollars are going to work for you. And the program's goal is to increase awareness and appropriate use of assistive technology, by people with disabilities, because how many times do we buy a device okay this is going to be the trick for me, and then you get at home and it sits on the shelf. So, this way, we can make the purchase, you borrow the device, see if it works. And then, you know, to buy it or not to buy it. I mean you could think a loved one is going to need a bed assist, you bring a bed assist home, they're very resistant. now you've just spent $60. So, this is a good way to keep people in our homes, make it a livable community. And we do have funding coming in and the community is our voice, so please call me if there's something you're just thinking about or you saw on TV you know that it might help your loved one with their daily living I think, and, you know, we'll step up to the plate and help you with that.

Host:  There have been special precautions that you're taking thanks to the COVID pandemic. If you could just briefly touch on those.

Guest:  Yes, due to COVID, you know we have to have safe distancing so how we've been moving forward with still utilizing TRAID is everything is done digitally. So, if I were to get a phone call say Ernie by you to borrow a device. I would send you the loan form via email, you would fill it out to the best of your ability. If you were unable to fill it out, I’ll fill it out over the phone. And then I would send that form, and you would then reply that you are in agreement with the loan, then we would schedule an appointment. Practicing safe distancing wearing our PPE masks. And I would meet you in the parking lot with the devices. And then it would be the same for the return you would schedule the return you're asked to wipe everything down. And again, we would wipe everything down once we get it into our facility. And it's been working out great, there's even been situations where we've had to mail out devices when COVID first hit. But it's been very functional, very functional.

Host:  The reason you're here, is to talk about the Kardia Mobile. What will that do for people?

Guest:  This device, which is great now again during COVID I mean we're unable to get into the doctor's as we need to. And the cardio mobile is an FDA mobile EKG that fits in your pocket, it can detect AFib or normal rhythms in just 30 seconds. So, it's inexpensive, it's $27. And again, you hook it up to your mobile device your phone or an iPad. It's small, it can fit in your pocket like it says you place your fingers on it, and it will record your biorhythms that you can even send to your doctor. So, it will connect to the doctor, it'll give you peace of mind. It's real time detection. You know, so there's, there's the health concerns that we all have and the concerns of going into a doctor's is an issue. So, if you were to have this device that you could borrow, you know, then you're good to go. And you can you know you're in good health.

Host:  I'm sure someone's bound to have questions, how can they reach you?

Guest:  They can reach me at my phone, and which is 716-836-1350. Again, that's 716-836-1350. But there's also an alternative number 716-836-1168 if they were unable to get ahold of me and that's the general line.

Host:  Thanks so much for being with us, Kim.

Guest:  Thank you very much, Ernie and you have a wonderful day.

Host:  You too. You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a Public Affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Kimberly Naus, Director of the UB’s CAT and your host was yours truly Ernie Churchwell.