Telehealth Monitor

Cisco HealthPresence combines state-of-the-art video, audio and call centre technology with medical information over a highly secure network to create a virtual face-to-face experience for patients and caregivers who may be miles apart. Cisco HealthPresence is a technical platform that interfaces with medical diagnostic equipment, such as stethoscopes and otoscopes, as well as a vital signs monitor that can measure blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate and pulse oximetry to capture the physiological condition of the patient. An attendant is available to operate the medical devices on behalf of the remotely located caregiver as well as to maintain the technology in good operating condition.

via Cisco, Scottish Centre for Telehealth, and NHS Scotland Launch First Cisco HealthPresence Trial -> News@Cisco.

Doctors offices may soon become much less crowded. AT&T is developing a software tool and networking platform that will use wireless devices to record a patients health measurements at home and send the data to the doctor. AT&Ts system runs on both Wi-Fi — enabling videoconferencing — and a second wireless technology named ZigBee, which receives data from medical sensors. ZigBee consumes considerably less power than Wi-Fi, so monitoring devices, including thermometers, pill dispensers, blood-pressure monitors, and pulse oximeters, can use small batteries to transmit data over long periods of time.

Home-based monitoring services like AT&Ts — which is approaching the trial stage — could transform how doctors interact with their patients. “The health-care industry is under a lot of stress,” says Bob Miller, executive director of AT&Ts communications-technology research department, “so theres a drive to explore ways of delivering better care at lower cost.” And greater convenience for both doctor and patient: If a physician notices, for instance, that a blood-pressure medication isnt working, or if the patient isnt taking the drugs regularly, shell be able to arrange a videoconference with the patient to discuss solutions.

AT&T isnt alone in exploring telemedicine technology, and the good news is that firms in this growing niche are banding together. AT&T is a member of the Continua Health Alliance — the group also includes Bayer, Cisco, GE, IBM, and Novartis — which is working to make medical-monitoring devices interoperable.

via AT&Ts Telehealth Wirelessly Monitors Patients Health | Fast Company.

The home-health division of Partners, which sends nurses to visit patients who need regular checkups, is among the small but growing group of agencies nationwide that have spent money to install remote-monitoring systems. After pilot programs suggested that patients with weakened hearts could benefit from home monitors, Partners Home Care recently began buying and installing $2,500 telehealth systems for 50 patients, including Fischer. The agency says 250 to 300 of its patients could ultimately benefit from home monitors, and hopes to have that number in place by the end of next year.

“We used to find that patients with congestive heart failure, even if we were visiting three times a week, we would miss a change in their weight, which is one of the first indicators their heart is failing,” said Judy Flynn , the agency's chief clinical officer. “By the time we'd get there to check it out, they'd need to be admitted to the hospital.”

In perhaps the largest national rollout of such systems, the US Department of Veterans Affairs has spent $20 million to install some 15,000 monitors across the country, and expects to have 50,000 in place by 2009.

The VA has found the systems cut patient care costs by about one-third. Each trained nurse watches daily vital signs of about 150 patients, some of whom also have video monitors for personal consultations. Abnormal results are red-flagged so a patient can receive a phone call or a personal visit.

“This may seem a little bit fanciful, but it's a little bit like an air-traffic control system for patients,” said Dr. Adam Darkins , who runs the VA's program.

Darkins also said patients don't seem to mind the drop-off in face-to-face visits.

“The satisfaction levels are over 90 percent,” he said. “It's very intuitive, and they feel they're in regular contact.”

Encouraged by such feedback, Honeywell International Inc. in 2004 bought HomMed , a leading producer of household monitors. Earlier this year, giant Philips Electronics NV launched its own system, Motiva . Another company, Viterion TeleHealthcare LLC , is a joint venture of Panasonic and Bayer. They compete with a broad constellation of private firms.

Still, industry observers say fewer than 200,000 people — and maybe less than half that number — have monitors. Philips's Motiva, which launched in May and is based in Massachusetts, has not yet sold any units. Even veteran players in the industry, such as California-based Health Hero Network Inc. , have fewer than 30,000 units in people's homes.

via `Telehealth’ systems slowly gaining – The Boston Globe.

What is GE's position with emerging telehealth technologies?

Hogan: We feel that broadband and portable monitoring will allow more home and portable monitoring of patients' conditions. The key will be proving that these systems actually save money, and there are many trials going on in the U.S. and in different parts of the world to determine the extent of help these systems can provide. At this point in time, I don't see a technological hurdle. The equipment and systems exist. The key will be determining the efficacy versus the cost of these systems.

via Q&A: GE Healthcare Technologies CEO Joe Hogan – Forbes.com.