The NeoCool app is designed to assist the clinician in determining a newborn’s eligibility for treatment with therapeutic hypothermia, AKA “cooling.” Using established inclusion and exclusion criteria for therapeutic hypothermia, the app helps medical and nursing staff ascertain a newborn’s eligibility in a step-by-step process that is designed to be carried out without requiring prior training.
Because therapeutic hypothermia must be initiated within six hours of birth, the app requires the input of time of birth so that the exams can be done at the correct time and ensures prompt treatment. The app does not store birth time beyond the period of immediate use, or any other protected health information. The app does not require Internet connectivity. After each use instance, the app will provide a summary of the information provided by the clinician, as this information may be requested by the transport team and/or receiving hospital. The clinician may also go back and adjust information previously entered during each use instance.