In early 2020, the government announced that lockdowns because of the corona pandemic would not last long – a maximum of a month or two.
Fast forward to today, and lockdowns are still on and off, causing major upheavals in the economics of every country.
Moreover, people have gotten more anxious to visit supermarkets and hospitals ever since the rise of the Delta variant.
It’s okay if you want to postpone your yearly bloodwork if you have no major health concerns in your life.
But what about those who suffer from harmful diseases?
Or those who are elderly and cannot put one foot forward without someone’s assistance?
Let’s find out in what situations mobile blood drawing services will come in handy.
Scenario 1: Immobile People
If paraplegic and quadriplegic people were being driven to hospitals pre-covid by immediate family members, nowadays it’s much harder to enter hospitals because of high covid cases and an overwhelming number of patients.
That’s why it’s beneficial to have mobile care services pass by and check up on immobile people.
These people might have muscular dystrophy, tumors on their spinal cord, or end-stage renal failure. Their bowel movements might be irregular, their blood sugar might fluctuate, and their creatinine levels might take a huge nosedive.
Hence, they would need frequent electrolyte tests, which phlebotomists or blood draw professionals provide.
Scenario 2: The Lonely Elderly
It was already hard enough for the elderly to walk and take a bus to the hospital or even catch a cab.
With the ongoing lockdowns, how will these vulnerable age groups reach their intended destinations without risking their health?
They might suffer from non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes which are considered the top harbingers of death. Hypertension is referred to as “silent death” since it can take away someone rather insidiously and quickly.
Furthermore, not all elders live with family members. Some are widowed, others divorced, while others are abandoned by their immediate family. Even the thought of leaving their house amid a global pandemic is no doubt very terrifying to many.
If anyone will benefit from mobile phlebotomists, it’s the elders for sure.
Scenario 3: Cancer Patients
This category of people requires, most often, 24 hr care. And if they don’t have access to a hospital immediately, even for a quick checkup, their situation will become detrimental.
Cancer patients undergo routine blood tests that include a complete blood count ( Red Blood Cells (RBCs), Platelets, Hemoglobin, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, etc.) and a series of other tests that are paramount for their health, such as:
- Ferritin Test: Ferritin is a protein containing iron, and elevated ferritin levels can indicate an iron storage disorder, such as hemochromatosis. In comparison, low levels of ferritin are indicative of iron deficiency, which can lead to anemia.
- BUN: blood urea nitrogen is the waste product of protein breakdown. Cancer patients may witness elevated BUN levels if they undergo chemotherapy treatments that may cause kidney damage.
- AST: Aspartate aminotransferase is an enzyme that’s released from damaged liver cells. Cancer patients may experience liver damage as one of the side effects of some cancer treatments is expanding cancer to their liver.
Cancer patients will have a low chance of going back to remission without these routine tests since their health status won’t be tracked frequently.
Takeaway
People in dire situations are generally the most eligible for home blood draw services. If you know of anyone that might be in need or have next of kin that may benefit significantly from such assistance. For these cases, there are professional phlebotomy businesses that provide mobile blood draw services at a click of a button!
