Intel Launches 'Health Guide' System to Help Patients, Doctors Manage Chronic Conditions

The Ad Council is currently running a campaign encouraging patients to take a more active role in their healthcare. The “questions are the answer” campaign includes information presented in a variety of media formats — newspaper, magazines, online — along with TV and radio ads (see the TV versions here and here).

 

Beyond mere encouragement, successfully getting patients to be more involved in their care necessitates offering tools that are both easy and satisfying to use. With that in mind, Intel on Monday introduced its new Health Guide system, designed to help health care professionals and their patients manage chronic conditions.

 

This product launch represents Intel’s (News - Alert) first foray into the health care market, focusing on systems that go beyond mere monitoring to actively involve patients in their own care. Intel’s solution include an in-home patient device (Health Guide PHS6000), and an online interface, Health Care Management Suite, providers can use to monitor and manage the care of their patients.

 

“Intel has spent years researching the needs of both caregivers and patients, and we are now moving to launch a series of products that will help extend care from the hospital to the home,” said Louis Burns, vice president and general manager of Intel’s digital health group, in a statement. “Our products will help address the challenges of an aging population and rising rates of chronic disease.”

 

To ensure that Health Guide will be a success, Intel is launching pilot projects in the U.S. in partnership with health care organizations including Providence Medical Group, Erickson Retirement Communities, Aetna and SCAN Health Plan. These pilot projects are intended to assess the best methods for integrating Health Guide into various home care management models. The focus is on managing chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure.

 

Some of Intel’s existing customers are also getting in on the action. Advanced Warning Systems, a provider of monitoring solutions for patients with cardiovascular symptoms that can cause sudden death, is one example. This company is choosing to enhance its services by using Health Guide to connect with patient populations that have the highest incidence of cardiovascular-related illnesses (e.g. post-war veterans, retired athletes).

 

Intel’s first U.S. market channel partner for Health Guide is American Medical Alert Corporation, a provider of monitoring devices and health care communication services. AMAC is adding Intel’s Health Guide to its portfolio as a way of giving customers access to the best care management technologies available.

 

The idea behind Health Guide is to give patients a variety of easy-to-use interactive tools for learning about and managing their chronic conditions. Patients can use the system to track their progress and record data such as vital signs. Care providers then can access this information, and provide feedback. Patients also can set up reminders regarding aspects of their care regimes (e.g. when to take medicine), and access educational content. Video conference and alerts can be used for communications and feedback between patients and care providers.

 

“The Health Guide is a step forward in offering more personalized and effective management of chronic health conditions in the home,” Burns said.

 

Intel has plans to take the core technology components used in the Health Guide to develop products for other healthcare-related applications, including health/wellness management programs and independent living initiatives. The technology also will support new, portable devices like mobile phones.