KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Truman Medical Center is one of the companies investing in a relatively new temperature-taking security camera.
Bob Niekamp, owner of Electronics Supply Co., said the cameras, which the business started selling because of the coronavirus pandemic, can take body temperatures using facial recognition.
"Once it recognizes a face then it knows where the eyes and the forehead is, and it takes your temperature right above your eyes," Niekamp said.
The technology eliminates the need for a person to scan each person individually with a no-contact thermometer.
"All 15 or 20 people can walk right in, and their temperature will be displayed on the screen," Niekamp said.
The technology can also document who has a high temperature, the date and time, and they can notify managers.
Steve Hoeger, director of Safety and Emergency Management at Truman Medical Center, said the hospital ordered the cameras in April for its employee entrances.
"This allows us to maintain our social distancing and allows us to monitor a number of people at one time," Hoeger said. "That way we know that everyone that's taking care of our patients and around our employees are safe to be doing so."
The cameras run $1,000 to $10,000. Hoeger said the cameras are a worthy investment.
"Fever isn't an absolute determinant, but it is a good sign that somebody could be carrying COVID-19," Hoeger said.
So far, Niekamp said he's sold about 30 cameras in the last few months to health care facilities, hospitals, food processing plants, and call centers. He hopes to get them in more hospitals, companies and schools to help prevent as much spread as possible.
