Thought I'd outline the various opportunities for the Halo and why I think it has a long growth runway with great opportunity for recurring revenue.
Ambulance
Undifferentiated patient may have fever, high risk contacts or respiratory symptoms prompting paramedics to employ PPE.
Emergency
Immediate care will require PPE until patient cleared. From here several things may happen
- If patient is low probability COVID rapid PCR test usually employed (~90mins to clear patient)
- If high risk then multiple formal PCR test usually required to clear patient (6-24 hours)
- High risk procedure such as intubation possible (Highest level protection warranted)
- May need urgent operation (cannot wait for PCR) this will involve an intubation for anaesthetic with PPE required intra-operatively (This step is the level of current penetration)
Ward
- As discussed earlier 6-24 hours to clear (PPE required)
- If positive then Ongoing PPE requirement
- COVID wards generally require PPE to be worn when in environment
ICU
- Similar to above with 6-24 hours to clear (PPE required)
- If positive then Ongoing PPE requirement
- Unwell patients with 1:1 nursing
- Nurse will be wearing PPE constantly without removing for minimum 4hour blocks
COVID is now endemic (not yet in Australia but in the world) given the potentially serious long term effects of infection and the lack of 100% efficacious vaccines the above process will occur on an indefinite basis whether or not the staff are vaccinated (this is a permanent change at least for the next 3-5 years I'd guess maybe forever). N95 masks provide inferior protection, are more uncomfortable and do not provide a verifiable record of compliance.
As you can see there is room for significant expansion from the prehospital setting through to ongoing care of patients who are COVID positive. Even if COVID is not an issue at a societal level it will remain a concern within healthcare. I really cannot see how this doesn’t permeate all of these environments over time.