What Role do Pulse Oximeters Play in COVID-19?

Can a small device that measures a person’s heart rate and blood oxygen level be used for COVID-19 prevention and treatment?

Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician and associate professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, tells Shape that a pulse oximeter could be handy — especially for people who are immunocompromised and have preexisting lung conditions.

The device clips onto your finger, like a clothespin.

“I think it is a good idea for patients with COVID-19 who are isolating at home, as long as they know what to do with the information—what oxygen level is too low, and what to do if that happens,” Dr. Watkins says.

Read more on the role of pulse oximeters in COVID-19 in Shape.