Samsung partners with Deakin University, National Trauma Research Institute (NTRI), and SaniteX Global to launch trial of Vital Monitoring System on Galaxy Watch4 for safe and convenient COVID health screening solution

• Galaxy Watch4’s heart rate and SpO2 sensors allow users to measure vital symptoms and apply them to the VMS solution

• VMS, developed in Australia by Deakin University, NTRI, and SaniteX Global, is designed to help frontline workers and the wider workforce safely return to work

Samsung Electronics has today announced the trial of the re-open.com solution, Vital Monitoring System (VMS), on the Samsung Galaxy Watch4. VMS, which recently launched globally in the US, is part of re-open.com, a cloud-based platform developed in Australia by Deakin University, NTRI, and SaniteX Global to support the world as it recovers from COVID-19 and into the future. VMS uses both physical health indicators and self-reporting tools to deliver an easy and holistic medical screening tool that is ideal for front-line workers.

The trial will take advantage of the sensors in the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 to enhance the efficiency and convenience of VMS, including the SpO2 sensor and heart rate monitor. The smartwatch’s SpO2 sensor enables users to monitor their blood oxygen level, offering clear visuals to assist in tracking.

As part of this trial, Deakin University and NTRI in partnership with Samsung is investigating the use of the Galaxy Watch4 as a standalone device as it currently requires a compatible Android smartphone.

As Australia and the world recovers from the pandemic, with front-line workers the priority and wider workforces to follow – the VMS solution has been designed to give employers and their employees peace-of-mind when it comes to safely returning to the workplace.

The VMS solution works by the user receiving an SMS message every morning before work, which links to an observation survey, where they’re asked screening questions and questions about their vital symptoms. This includes temperature, SpO2, heart rate, COVID-19 symptoms including body aches, headaches, or a sore throat, and whether they have been in close contact with anyone who has had, or shown symptoms of having, COVID-19.

Integrating the solution into Samsung’s Galaxy Watch4 allows users to carry out the questionnaire using their watch, designed to automatically measure SpO2 and Heart Rate – and apply that to the screening questions. If the user passes the screening, they will receive a QR code which will grant them access to the workplace.

Dr Carl Luckhoff, Acting Director of Emergency at Alfred Health, who has been heavily involved in developing and trialing the VMS solution, said, “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been faced with considerable unknowns. That will continue as we move into the next stages of COVID-19 recovery, however, screening measures will play an imperative role in the recovery process. VMS has been built with that exact purpose in mind and we’re delighted to partner with Samsung to tap into the capabilities of its Galaxy Watch4, which truly complements the VMS solution.”

Danny Mandrides, Head of Enterprise & Government Mobile Business at Samsung Electronics, said, “Partnering with Deakin University and SaniteX Global on the VMS solution provides us with an opportunity to help in the quest to return the world to some sort of normality, and that’s incredibly exciting. The Galaxy Watch4’s health monitoring capabilities are a perfect match for the VMS solution and will help to improve user experience by automating the collation of key vital measurements needed for its observation survey.”

Professor Kon Mouzakis at Deakin University said, “In order for the VMS solution to have the scale and usability that we want it to, we need to meet people where they are, on their favourite platforms, and with a seamless ease-of-use. Samsung’s Galaxy Watch4 is a perfect device for us to partner with, given its health tracking capabilities – and we’re delighted that both current and prospective Galaxy Watch users will be able to utlise their device for VMS screening.”

David A. Collard, SaniteX Global’s Founder & CEO, said, “The VMS solution has been built through a strong partnership with Deakin University and Alfred Health from the very first conversation we had with Professor Rajesh Vasa. Helping facilitate U.S. market access on the re-open.com platform drove the collaborative discussion to broaden VMS’s application to health screening. Partnering with Samsung and its global capabilities will see VMS scaled significantly, helping the individuals who wear the Galaxy Watch4 monitor their wellbeing with ease and make the world a safer place.”

The solution’s strict security measures mean that personal health data is kept secure and confidential. Data is encrypted to employers. The only people who can ever access the data are clinicians to help in the case of people needing treatment and requiring accessing health records. The new screening tool is compliant with the highest standard of health privacy regulations.