In an effort to make home healthcare management easier and more effective for individual patients, Intel has launched pilot programs to test a computerized system that will link patients and their healthcare providers, via the internet, making it possible for healthcare providers to know, on a daily basis, exactly what’s going on with each patient in their care.  The system, the Intel Health Care Management Suite, includes a patient laptop, online interface between physician and patient, the necessary software applications, and a database  that stores patient data.

Joining Intel in the pilot programs are Aetna, Erickson Retirement Communities, the Providence Medical Group in Oregon, and the Scan Health Plan.  The Mayo Clinic and the American Heart Association will supply medical assessments, treatment guidelines based on an individual’s medical data, and educational content provided in multimedia form.

Intel’s Mariah Scott, head of sales and marketing for the company’s Digital Health Group, says collecting and assessing medical information in the most timely manner possible can mean an enormous difference in quality of care provided a patient.  The company expects the Intel Health Guide to make data collection and analysis much faster than current methods.

The system includes a laptop for patient use, which can be programmed, complete with a reminder chime, to become active at a specific time each day.  Once activated, the patient is prompted to respond to patient-specific questions and to document his or her vital signs.  Peripheral devices such as blood pressure cuffs and glucose meters, can be attached to the laptop based on a patient’s individual needs.

After medical data has been input, the patient receives medical instructions, educational data, or other information based on the input data.  With daily updates, the medical team can track each patient on a regular basis and initiate further action as appropriate.

The laptop has been designed for patients with little or no computer experience and limited medical knowledge.  It features a touch screen with extra-large buttons and step-by-step instructions that appear as text on screen at the same time it is read aloud by the computer.

Intel received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the pilot programs in July.