Jan 23 2014
A recent study (1) published in MEDSURG Nursing, the official Journal of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, reported: "Based on the results of this study, temporal artery thermometers appear to be a reliable way to measure temperature noninvasively in hospitalized patients."
The study was undertaken to evaluate the agreement of temperatures measured with a temporal artery thermometer when sequentially used by the same person and a second user in 34 postoperative patients. The differences in two temperatures measured by a single user and between two persons were small and within the range of acceptable values set by experts when evaluating thermometers for hospital use. The researchers also concluded that while oral electronic temperatures are commonly used in acute care settings, the temporal artery thermometer provides another accurate method for temperature assessment.
"This study further corroborates the accuracy and validity of temporal artery thermometry, adding to the extensive body of medical studies attesting to their accuracy," said Francesco Pompei, Ph.D., CEO of Exergen Corporation. "We developed the TemporalScanner™ to provide consistent, quick and accurate readings in a noninvasive manner, all of which contribute to its wide and ever increasing preference among physicians, nurses, and consumers."
The study was conducted in a 400-bed not-for-profit community hospital in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States in a 37-bed orthopedic and general surgical care unit. Data collection was completed over three months.
Exergen markets two models of the TemporalScanner thermometer: a professional version for doctors' offices and hospitals, and a consumer model sold in major retailers nationwide. More than one billion temperatures are taken each year with the TemporalScanner. It is used in thousands of hospitals, clinics and pediatricians' offices across the country, as well as in millions of homes. For the third year in a row it is the #1 selling retail thermometer and #1 preference of pediatricians in the US. The Exergen TemporalScanner's performance is supported by more than 50 peer-reviewed published studies covering all ages from preterm infants to geriatrics and all care areas from hospitals to homes. For additional information, visit www.exergen.com.
(1) McConnell E, Senseney D, George S, Whipple D. Reliability of temporal artery thermometers. MEDSURG Nursing, Nov-Dec 2013 Vol. 22/No. 6 p387.