The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just announced approval of a healthcare management tool developed by the innovative, high-tech company, Intel.  The device, the Intel Health Guide, allows patients to take a more active role in their health care when chronic conditions such as diabetes or chronic heart failure are present while remaining in closer contact with their caregivers.

The Intel Health Guide is a device intended for in-home use by the patient.  The device allows interaction between patient and caregiver by connecting to a number of the most commonly used medical devices which monitor a patient’s vital signs, which can be relayed via the internet to caregivers, who can monitor the patient’s state of health and provide education and management information as needed.  Some of the devices that can be monitored by the Intel Health Guide include glucose meters, pulse oximeters, blood pressure monitors, weight scales, and peak flow meters.  Patients can communicate with their team of healthcare providers via email and videoconferencing, which enables them to ask questions and even get reminders when action is needed.

Louis Burns, Intel vice president and general manager of its Digital Health Group, says his company believes the Intel Health Guide takes personal health care and patient monitoring beyond its current level and expects to expand the device’s use to include wellness maintenance programs as well as treatment of chronic conditions.

Intel conducted pilot studies of the device in the United States and the United Kingdom and additional studies are currently under way to better understand how the device can be used to its best advantage from both the patient and caretaker perspective.  The company expects to begin marketing the device later this year or in early 2009.

Source: Intel