Temporal Artery Scanner Only Method Satisfying 100% of Patients in Overnight Hospital Stays Says Exergen Corporation

A new national survey was recently conducted to explore methods of thermometry used in hospitals, patients’ thermometry preferences and a possible correlation between the way patients had their temperatures taken and satisfaction with their hospital experience. The survey indicates that findings among patients ages 65+ have strong implications for Medicare reimbursement and hospital reputation. The survey was conducted among adults who had spent one or more nights in the hospital over the past 24 months, and answers were based on their most recent stay.

A disproportionally large number of older patients are going to hospitals that use the TemporalScanner. Patients ages 65+ reported that TemporalScanner was the method used most frequently to take their temperature. Notably, 68% of that group said that they would recommend that hospital to family and friends.

“Today, virtually all (92%) adults who are 65 years of age or older are enrolled in Medicare,” said Francesco Pompei, Ph.D., CEO of Exergen Corporation. “They have tremendous power in determining the outcomes of Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) surveys that link directly to Medicare reimbursement for the hospital. With more than two thirds of patients 65+ saying they would recommend the hospital which used the TemporalScanner, hospitals should take note and make sure they are listening to those individuals.”

Patients reported a variety of methods hospitals used to take temperatures, but TemporalScanner alone satisfied 100% of respondents of all ages. Every other method included individuals who were “not at all satisfied.” No other method satisfied all the respondents.

“The 100% satisfaction with forehead thermometry (temporal artery thermometers) is not surprising, and it is significant,” said Dr. Pompei. “The Temporal thermometer is preferred by medical professionals because its accuracy has been proven in more than 70 clinical studies. It’s the patients’ choice because it is noninvasive. Anything hospitals can do to improve the patient experience is crucial for the hospital to make a positive impression on the patient.”

Of the 1,000 people surveyed, 23% had an overnight stay in the hospital within the past 24 months. Recall of how they had their temperature taken was very high, with 85% indicating that they recalled how it was taken.

“The fact that so many people remembered how their temperature was taken indicates that temperature taking has a great impact on them,” added Dr. Pompei.

The online survey was fielded by Researchscape International from April 8 to 9, 2019 with 1,000 respondents and a modeled margin of error of +/- 4%. Results were weighted by age, gender, region, Hispanicity, ethnicity, and education.

Exergen manufactures and markets two series of the TemporalScanner thermometer: a professional version for hospitals and clinics, and a Consumer TemporalScanner version sold in major retailers nationwide. More than two billion temperatures are taken each year with TemporalScanners. Used in thousands of hospitals and clinics across the country as well as in millions of homes, TemporalScanners are the #1 preference of pediatricians, #1 preference of nurses and #1 selling retail thermometer.

The Exergen TemporalScanner’s accuracy is supported by more than 70 peer-reviewed published studies covering all ages from preterm infants to geriatrics and care areas from hospitals to homes.