The healthcare industry is undergoing a profound transformation, thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT). The integration of IoT technology into healthcare systems is revolutionizing patient care, treatment processes, and medical research. In this article, we’ll explore how IoT is making its mark on the healthcare sector, its key applications, benefits, and the implications for the future of healthcare.

IoT in Healthcare: A Game Changer

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of interconnected physical devices, vehicles, buildings, and other objects embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity that allows them to collect and exchange data. In healthcare, IoT is enabling the collection and analysis of vast amounts of patient data, promoting remote monitoring, and enhancing the efficiency of medical facilities.

Key Applications of IoT in Healthcare

1. Remote Patient Monitoring

IoT has enabled healthcare providers to remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions. Wearable devices, such as smartwatches and sensors, collect real-time data on vital signs, activity levels, and other health parameters. This data is transmitted to healthcare providers who can intervene when necessary, offering timely care and preventing hospital readmissions.

2. Smart Medical Devices

IoT is giving rise to a new generation of smart medical devices. From connected inhalers that monitor medication usage to intelligent pill dispensers that send medication adherence reminders, these devices help patients manage their health more effectively and enable healthcare providers to track patient compliance.

3. Telemedicine

Telemedicine, or remote medical consultations, has seen tremendous growth with the help of IoT. Video conferencing and remote monitoring tools allow patients to consult with healthcare professionals from the comfort of their homes. This approach not only increases access to care but also reduces the burden on healthcare facilities.

4. Asset and Inventory Management

IoT is improving the management of medical equipment and supplies. Sensors can track the location and status of medical devices, ensuring their availability when needed. This results in cost savings and reduces the risk of delays in patient care.

5. Clinical Workflow Optimization

IoT can optimize clinical workflows by connecting various systems and devices. For example, electronic health records (EHRs) can be seamlessly integrated with diagnostic equipment, automating data transfer and reducing the risk of errors.

6. Hospital and Home Automation

IoT extends to the management of hospital infrastructure and home care. Smart building systems can control lighting, heating, and cooling, ensuring a comfortable environment for patients. Similarly, home automation systems can be integrated with healthcare devices to support independent living for elderly or disabled individuals.

7. Drug Management and Compliance

IoT is used to monitor drug storage conditions, ensuring that medications remain effective and safe. It can also help patients adhere to their medication regimens by sending reminders and tracking consumption.

Benefits of IoT in Healthcare

The integration of IoT in healthcare offers numerous advantages:

1. Improved Patient Outcomes

Remote monitoring and real-time data analysis enable healthcare providers to intervene promptly when health parameters deviate from normal ranges. This leads to improved patient outcomes, reduced hospital readmissions, and better management of chronic conditions.

2. Enhanced Efficiency

IoT streamlines healthcare workflows by automating various processes, such as patient data entry and medical equipment tracking. This reduces administrative burden, frees up staff time, and reduces errors.

3. Cost Savings

Efficiency gains and improved patient outcomes often translate into cost savings for healthcare facilities and patients. Preventing hospital readmissions and complications reduces the overall cost of care.

4. Increased Accessibility

Telemedicine and remote monitoring extend healthcare access to underserved or remote areas. Patients can consult with specialists without the need for long-distance travel, making healthcare more accessible.

5. Personalized Treatment

IoT allows for personalized treatment plans by continuously monitoring a patient’s condition and adjusting treatment regimens accordingly. This personalized approach often leads to more effective treatment and improved patient satisfaction.

Challenges and Considerations

While IoT in healthcare offers significant benefits, it also poses challenges and considerations:

1. Data Security and Privacy

Healthcare data is sensitive and subject to strict privacy regulations. The secure storage and transmission of patient data is of utmost importance to maintain patient trust and regulatory compliance.

2. Interoperability

IoT devices and systems must be compatible and interoperable to ensure seamless data exchange and integration. This requires the development and adoption of common standards.

3. Regulatory Compliance

The healthcare industry is heavily regulated, and IoT solutions must adhere to these regulations. Compliance with standards such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is crucial.

4. Data Overload

The continuous collection of patient data can result in information overload. Healthcare providers need effective tools for data management and interpretation to extract valuable insights.

5. Resistance to Change

The adoption of IoT in healthcare requires a cultural shift and staff training. Resistance to change can be a barrier to successful implementation.

The Future of IoT in Healthcare

As technology continues to advance, the future of IoT in healthcare looks promising. Here are some trends and developments to watch for:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Integration

IoT and AI will work hand in hand to analyze vast amounts of patient data and offer insights for diagnosis, treatment, and predictive healthcare.

2. Wearable Health Tech

Wearable devices will continue to evolve, becoming more sophisticated and integrated into daily life. They will offer not only health monitoring but also wellness and lifestyle recommendations.

3. 5G Connectivity

The rollout of 5G networks will provide faster and more reliable connectivity for IoT devices, enabling real-time data transmission and analysis.

4. Blockchain Technology

Blockchain can be used to enhance the security and integrity of healthcare data, ensuring that patient records remain accurate and private.

5. Telehealth Expansion

The growth of telehealth and remote monitoring will continue, extending healthcare access and reducing the need for in-person visits.

Conclusion

IoT is reshaping the healthcare industry, making it more patient-centric, efficient, and accessible. The integration of IoT devices and systems allows for real-time patient monitoring, personalized treatment plans, and enhanced efficiency in healthcare facilities.

Challenges related to data security, interoperability, and regulatory compliance must be addressed to ensure the benefits of IoT in healthcare are fully realized. As IoT technology continues to advance, it will remain a driving force in transforming healthcare, offering a glimpse into a future where healthcare is not just about treating illness but also about preventing it and promoting overall well-being.

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Sequans Communications S.A. announced that Withings, pioneer of the connected health movement, has selected Sequans’ Monarch 2 LTE-M/NB-IoT technology as the basis for its next generation of IoT connected health devices.

Withings builds a wide range of health monitoring devices, including activity trackers, body weight and cardio monitors, blood pressure monitors, and advanced sleep analyzers.

“We have selected Monarch 2 as the basis for our next generation of connected health solutions because we believe that Monarch 2 is the most advanced cellular LTE-M/NB-IoT connectivity technology available today,” said Xavier Debreuil, product director, Withings.

“Monarch 2 provides everything we were looking for — LTE-M cellular connectivity with unmatched low power consumption, advanced integrated features, and a very small form factor. We are especially pleased with Monarch 2’s exceptionally low power consumption that enables extended battery life even using simple batteries, which makes these devices easier to manage and encourages regular usage.”

“Withings’ is dedicated to transforming the relationship between people and healthcare professionals and we are proud to provide the connectivity for their truly innovative ehealth devices,” said Didier Dutronc, EVP and GM, Massive IoT, Sequans. “Monarch 2 was developed with companies like Withings in mind—companies who are dedicated to providing powerful IoT services in the most advanced and efficient way possible.”

Withings is using Sequans’ recently announced Monarch 2 GM02S module that delivers ultra-low power consumption with a 60 percent improvement over the already industry-leading low level of first-generation Monarch. Also, Monarch 2 GM02S is the world’s only cellular IoT module supporting a certifiable EAL5+ secure enclave for integrated SIM (ieUICC) capability that is compliant with GSMA standards. The module also supports a single rail power supply starting at 2.2 V, the lowest level in the industry, allowing for better efficiency of the internal power management unit, further reducing power consumption and lowering battery and BOM cost.

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The Internet of Things (IoT) has made it easier for point-of-care centers to track and analyze sensitive medical data for their patients. But with so much confidential data transmitting to and from physicians, it’s crucial that IoT medical devices use safe communication protocols that encrypt their data.

Unfortunately, many IoT medical devices have major security vulnerabilities, which put patient data at too much risk and can make it harder for healthcare professionals to rely on them in the future. What’s more, many IoT devices rely on a limited pool of computing resources, which makes it tough to create solutions that can keep their data encrypted on wireless networks.

To better understand the security vulnerabilities that IoT medical devices face, it’s important to know exactly which products are most at risk of being hacked. In this article, we will cover the four IoT medical devices that are most susceptible to cybersecurity breaches and how to protect them.

1 – Wireless Infusion Pumps

Wireless infusion pumps, as the name may suggest, remove the need for physicians to give their patients vital medical fluids in-person. Instead, these IoT devices can talk with a patient’s electronic health records to speed up fluid infusions and cut down on healthcare costs.

However, the wireless connection protocols that these pumps use can provide low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals to pluck. Wireless infusion pumps, just like a tablet or home computer, need to be hooked up to a network to take in data from a server and send it back out to receiving devices, which makes them vulnerable to malicious software that finds its way onto a wireless network.

Protecting IoT data on the cloud can help point-of-care centers avoid threats on an unencrypted physical network. This is because cloud storage services such as Google Drive or DropBox offer a reduced number of entry points that hackers can use to gain access to a network and compromise IoT devices.

Furthermore, medical organizations can use Google Drive and Dropbox for storing files that contain protected patient information while maintaining HIPAA compliance, so long as a business associate agreement (BAA) is signed with either service.

2 – Implanted Devices

Implanted devices, like the ones that track your body’s cardiovascular functions, wirelessly transfer patient data to expedite the healthcare they receive. However, a faster rate of data transfer doesn’t mean much if it compromises a patient’s confidentiality and puts their health at risk. Hackers who remotely access implanted medical devices can wreak havoc on their functionality and subsequently endanger patients’ lives.

The biggest security issue with implantable devices lies in the way they communicate with each other. Wireless communication systems, like Medtronic’s Conexus protocol, often fail to stop data breaches because they don’t include an incident response plan. Fortunately, in early 2020 Medtronic released patches for security flaws for its devices that had been disclosed in the prior two years.

While this can offer a little assurance, the simple fact remains that these kinds of devices still freely transmit wireless information without authenticating or encrypting it, and they have no Plan B in place in the event that hackers intercept their data. It’s no surprise, then, that implantable devices can be exploited by cyber breaches such as DDoS attacks.

3 – Smartpens

Smartpens are a godsend to physicians who need to quickly access a complete snapshot of their patient’s medical background. These small IoT devices can store and quickly transmit massive amounts of sensitive data to pharmacies and point-of-care centers. It certainly sounds convenient for both patients and doctors, but much of their information is at risk of being compromised.

Smartpens, like implanted devices, expose themselves to cybercriminals with gaping backdoors that can be opened via their network communication protocols. Instead of safely accessing medical records by installing protective software, smart pens often rely on servers directly connected to the internet to store and access sensitive data. Once a hacker exploits these communication protocols, there’s not much left standing in the way between them and a server filled to the brim with confidential patient records.

4 – Vital signs monitors

The IoT makes it possible to remotely monitor a patient’s vital signs using Bluetooth technology and allows doctors to rapidly respond to changes in a patient’s vitals, but it comes at the cost of low-quality encryption methods. This is why as an additional option to relying on the cloud to store patient data, healthcare companies should investigate alternative encryption protocols that target low-power IoT devices.

One solution is for medical companies to make it a policy to always use virtual private networks (VPNs) that come with proven encryption protocols like IKEv2 or L2TP/IPSec when connecting IoT devices to the organization’s network. Using a VPN will hide the IoT devices’ IP addresses and ensure that company and patient data transmitted over the network are kept untraceable.

In any case, encryption protocols need to start compensating for vital signs monitors’ limited pool of computing resources by becoming more sophisticated. Right now, too few encryption protocols for IoT vital monitors sacrifice their quality by being low-power solutions themselves.

Conclusion

It’s crucial for IT teams and cybersecurity personnel working for healthcare companies to know what medical devices powered by IoT are most at risk of hacking and cyber-attacks. A complete understanding of how data assets become vulnerable can help medical organizations figure out how to protect them. This becomes truer than ever as more IoT medical devices are being developed and deployed to hospitals, health clinics, and even patients’ own homes.

Healthcare businesses can give their IT departments a head start in the near future by combining a monitoring view of their active IoT medical devices with the rest of their security initiatives. Right now, the solutions to gain broader visibility into each IoT device that is online are limited. However, creating strategies to discover and detect security threats that integrate with IoT medical devices can safeguard sensitive medical data and protect vulnerable patients.

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According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, around 3.0 million patients worldwide were using connected home medical monitoring devices at the end of 2013.

This figure comprises all patients that were remotely monitored by a professional caregiver. Patients that use connected medical devices for personal health tracking are not included in this figure. Until 2018, Berg Insight estimates that the number of patients using connected home medical monitoring devices will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 44.4 percent to 19.1 million.

The main application is monitoring of patients with implantable cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices, which with 2.0 million connections accounted for nearly two thirds of all connected home medical monitoring devices in 2013. Sleep therapy and telehealth are the second and third largest segments with 0.54 million and 0.34 million connections respectively at the end of the year.  All other device categories – including ECG, glucose level, medication adherence, blood pressure, air flow, home sleep tests, blood oxygen and coagulation monitoring – stood for less than 0.1 million connections each. Berg Insight expects that CRM will remain the single largest device segment throughout the forecast period, growing at a CAGR of 15.1 percent to 4.0 million connections by 2018. However, the CRM segment will account for just 21 percent of all connections in 2018, down from 65 percent in 2013, as the use of connectivity is growing faster in other device segments.

Today, more than 70 percent of all connected medical devices rely on PSTN or LAN connectivity for transmitting measurement data to caregivers. However, cellular connectivity has become the most common technology in new medical devices and is forecasted to account for 74 percent of all connections by 2018. A third alternative is that patients use their own mobile devices as health hubs. The bring your own device (BYOD) model can in theory be very cost-efficient as no dedicated hardware or subscriptions are needed, but accounted for less than one percent of all connections in 2013.

Lars Kurkinen, Senior Analyst, Berg Insight, says:

“It is currently more common that caregivers provide a dedicated tablet or smartphone to a patient for remote monitoring than that a patient uses her own device. The main limitation is in the lack of interoperability between medical monitoring devices, smartphones and tablets.”

He adds that mHealth connectivity platforms such as 2net Mobile from Qualcomm Life and HealthKit from Apple are emerging as promising solutions and can allow BYOD health hubs to become the favoured alternative for several groups of patients such as diabetics and asthmatics.

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A smart, connected and funny domestic robot at your service…

Do you fancy chatting with a robot? South Korean company Futurerobot’s Furo-i is a robot suitable for this and a wide range of other uses: healthcare, mental care, entertainment, education…

Furo-i can accompany children as a companion and learning aid, serve the family as a multimedia center, and assist senior citizens as a means of communication. It can also be used in healthcare. Furo-i receives data by Bluetooth and W-LAN from connected blood pressure and blood glucose measuring devices, thermometers, scales, and pedometers. It analyzes the data and makes recommendations on how to stay fit and healthy under adverse medical events that might occur in your body. It can even relay diagnostic results to doctors who work at a distance from the patient.

Furo-i’s control center is a special tablet PC that is fitted to a holder on the sloping front of the mobile casing. Once fitted, it uses the camera, the microphone, and a positioning sensor to sense its surroundings. They enable the robot to recognize people in its vicinity, to interpret their intentions, and to offer services accordingly. It can initiate conversations, for example, simulate domestic animals, play music and films, access social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, or show the news and the weather forecast.

Three wheels on the base of the robot’s casing enable Furo-i to move around freely. In conversations it imitates human facial expressions and gestures by means of a stylized face and three movable LED luminaires. The robot, which weighs 5.6 kilograms, can also facilitate video telephony with other people. It costs USD 5,000.

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The market for disposable wireless Medical Body Area Network (MBAN) sensors within professional healthcare is in its earliest stages, but key foundations to support adoption are now in place.

There is also tremendous potential for adoption. So much so that by 2018, close to 5 million disposable sensors will be shipped even though MBAN sensors will have still barely penetrated the addressable market.

MBAN sensors will enable patient monitoring information such as temperature to be collected automatically from a wearable thermometer sensor. These devices will improve patient monitoring detail and free up nursing staff to concentrate on other aspects of care. By bringing the technology to disposable form factors MBAN sensors integrate especially well with the workflow of professional healthcare.

Over the next five years, a number of technology approaches will come to market, each competing to become a de-facto standard.
“The market for disposable MBAN sensors will differ from the wider wearable wireless device market in its support for specific protocols,” says Jonathan Collins, principal analyst at ABI Research.

“Where Bluetooth Smart will dominate connectivity in the total wearable wireless device market, two competing approaches will be prominent in the disposable healthcare market over the next few years: proprietary and NFC.”

ABI Research believes this market specifically lends itself to targeted, proprietary offerings from existing equipment suppliers with the relationships and proven track records with healthcare clients. For its part, NFC offers significantly lower sensor costs and standardized connectivity to smartphones and tablets. However, it does not offer the same levels of automated data collection as rival technologies such as Bluetooth Smart or proprietary short-range wireless.

Established medical devices providers, GE Healthcare and Philips have already shown their interest in driving wireless MBAN adoption supporting an FCC ruling setting aside spectrum in the United States for MBAN devices.

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Frost & Sullivan’s Top Five Technologies that will Impact Healthcare Delivery in Asia-Pacific in 2013.

The healthcare industry in Asia-Pacific is undergoing a transformation under the influence of an evolving consumer profile, dynamic disease patterns and increasing healthcare costs. “Efficient, affordable and timely delivery of quality healthcare services is a priority for governments across the region,” says Natasha Gulati, Connected Health Industry Analyst, Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific.

Frost & Sullivan has identified top five technologies that have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery in Asia-Pacific.

1. Cloud Computing and Cloud Services

Cloud computing not only addresses the challenge of rising healthcare costs by significantly reducing capital expenditure for healthcare providers, it also provides them with the flexibility and agility they require in the dynamic Asia-Pacific market. Almost 30% of healthcare providers across the region are currently using cloud computing and cloud services while a number admit that this is a key technology focus for their budget in the near future. Hospital CIOs admit pagers and mobile phones continue to be the most popular communication channel for physicians. Cloud services are helping healthcare organizations connect with their employees far more efficiently while at the same time also improving scheduling and other administrative tasks. Many healthcare providers in Australia are also using Cloud solutions to reach out to and educate a larger population through mobile and web-based services. However, a number of concerns and apprehensions loom around data security as well as the risk to business continuity when it comes to cloud in healthcare.

2. Big Data Analytics

The Asia-Pacific business analytics for healthcare providers was estimated at USD 315.9 million (AUD 304.3 million) in 2011, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% between 2011 and 2018. As governments and private players across Asia-Pacific rapidly move towards electronic health information exchange and remote and mobile patient monitoring devices, the volume of medical and health data will expand to the tune of terabytes. These large, complex data sets will comprise healthcare Big Data and will act as a valuable resource for a number of stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem. To be able to derive actionable insights from these large data sets, healthcare organizations will leverage sophisticated analytics and intelligence tools that will help them manage, comprehend and exploit this data. Australia is already well-ahead of the curve as compared to other markets in the region, contributing almost 2% of the 2011 revenue. The Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system currently gathers very basic information but as the system expands in depth and complexity, software vendors in Australia expect a significant boom in the clinical analytics market.

3. Advanced Visualization Tools

Healthcare is increasingly moving towards the era of prevention as a result of which early, safe and reliable diagnostics becomes imperative. Due to this megatrend the demand for advanced visualization tools such as 3-dimensional imaging and imaging analytics will rise rapidly. These tools and software help physicians make better informed decisions and thus, assist in improved diagnosis as well as treatment. Physicians across the region are not only demanding complex software but also investing in training to help them understand how best they can leverage such tools. Private players too are adding to this momentum by providing product training as well as university courses for physicians and radiologists to help them better manage sophisticated imaging techniques.

4. Machine-2-Machine Communication

Machine-2-Machine or M2M communication has already made significant strides in other industries. The idea is now being explored in healthcare by medical device manufacturers and mobility solutions providers who are investing in integrating advanced communication technologies, such as, blue-tooth, RFID (radio frequency identification), motion sensing and wireless, into patient monitoring devices. The vision is to encapsulate the healthcare consumer in a web of devices that constantly monitor physiological parameters, analyse the information and communicate it to the right people and devices in almost real-time. Several large telecommunication companies, including Telstra and Vodafone, are providing products and services in this space for the Australian market.

5. Social Media as a Means of Sharing Information

Social media is no longer looked upon as an advertising option amongst healthcare circles. Healthcare organizations have begun to realize both tangible and intangible benefits of a strong social media community. Healthcare providers are investing in online portals, live chats, panels, forums and communities as a means of sharing and disseminating information between physicians, consumers and government bodies. Moreover, with the volume of health information being exchanged online, physicians and researchers are now seeking ways to structure data picked up from social media sources and use this to improve healthcare delivery.

Gulati elaborates to say that while all of the above technologies may play very distinct roles in serving the healthcare community, at their very core, they are based on secure, reliable and timely exchange of medical and health information.

She states:

“The healthcare industry is becoming increasingly conscious of the importance of information and is aggressively working towards improving the quality of data as well as data management processes by not only investing in technology but also by developing regulations, standards and protocols to support vigorous information gathering and exchange.”

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Qualcomm Life’s 2net Platform and Hub are designed to enable medical device manufacturers and service providers to wirelessly connect their medical devices via a secure, cloud-based solution so that biometric information is easily accessible by device users, their healthcare providers and caregivers.

The 2net Platform and Hub are each individually certified as Class I Medical Devices in Europe, and FDA listed as a Medical Device Data System (MDDS) in the U.S. The announcement took place at the International Telecare & Telehealth Conference (TSA) being held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel from November 12–14.

“We have a number of customers in Europe and the U.S. who want to extend their mobile health solutions in multiple regions around the world, and they need to provide a reliable service that is not impacted by geographic boundaries”, said Rick Valencia, vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Life.

“Launching our wirelessly enabled healthcare ecosystem into Europe is another step toward the realization of our vision –– a world with access to healthcare anytime and anywhere.”

Two of Qualcomm Life’s first European customers are Telbios and Cystelcom. Telbios is a leading service provider of remote health monitoring solutions for chronic care and disease management in Italy. Telbios is working with Qualcomm Life as its technology solution provider to reduce costs and remove technological complexities. Qualcomm Life’s wireless solution allows Telbios to lower the economic and operational barriers required to expand and scale its innovative chronic care services faster. By connecting to the 2net Platform, Telbios will be able to combine data from several devices into one data stream to allow for improved access and sharing of patient data, improving care coordination for general practitioners.

Mobile health holds significant potential in Europe to defray healthcare costs and increase the quality and quantity of care, helping to address anticipated shortages of qualified healthcare professionals. Globally, Europe has the highest burden of chronic disease, and the continued increase in prevalence is considered an epidemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), which estimates chronic diseases will claim the lives of 52 million people in the European region by 2030.

“There is a clear imperative for health services providers and manufacturers to invest in remote monitoring solutions to improve patient outcomes and align with preventive care initiatives. Europe’s governing bodies have demonstrated a commitment to robust pilots, such as the 3 Million Lives project sponsored by the Department of Health in the U.K.,” said Laurent Vandebrouck, managing director of Qualcomm Life Europe.

“Qualcomm Life has been helping its customers pave the way for wireless health in the U.S., and this is an exciting time to extend our services and offering in Europe.”

The 2net Platform is designed as a secure end–to–end, technology–agnostic, cloud–based service offering that interconnects health devices so that information is easily accessible by device users and their healthcare providers and caregivers. The 2net Hub is one of four gateways onto the platform, and is a plug–and–play Class I Medical Device under the EU directive 93/42/EEC (MDD) that collects data from a patient’s medical device and sends the information to be stored in the 2net Platform over a mobile connection, following encryption. A connection to the 2net Platform can also be obtained through three additional gateways including mobile phones, other mobile–enabled devices, and application program interfaces that connect to the customer service platform. Connectivity is provided through a pan–European SIM with no roaming fees allowing deployment of customer solutions anytime, in any place and in any European country. More than 100 medical device manufacturers, application developers, healthcare services companies and payors are in various stages of integration with the 2net Ecosystem.

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Developed by Preventice and the Mayo Clinic, the system detects, records, and wirelessly transmits physiological data to support remote monitoring of nonlethal cardiac arrhythmias in ambulatory patients.

Preventice Inc., a leading developer of mobile health applications and remote monitoring systems, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the company 510(k) clearance for its BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System (RMS).

Developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, the BodyGuardian System uses sophisticated algorithms to support remote monitoring for individuals with cardiac arrhythmias. The BodyGuardian System will allow physicians to monitor key biometrics outside of the clinical setting, while patients go about their daily lives. A small body sensor attached to the patient’s chest collects important data, including the patient’s ECG, heart rate, respiration rate, and activity level. Patient data can then be transmitted to physicians via mobile phone technology. Remote patient monitoring can create a constant connection between patients and their care teams.

The FDA clearance allows Preventice to market and sell BodyGuardian to hospitals and clinics for use in detecting and monitoring non-lethal cardiac arrhythmias for ambulatory patients. Although not yet commercially available, the BodyGuardian RMS will be prescribed by a physician or other qualified health care professional when diagnostic and post-procedure monitoring is needed. The company anticipates commercial availability of the BodyGuardian RMS by the end of 2012.

“We are thrilled that the FDA has provided clearance for the BodyGuardian RMS enabling Preventice to bring to market a real-time, remote connection between physicians and patients,” said Jon Otterstatter, co-founder, president and CEO of Preventice.
“Our vision at Preventice has been to maximize this industry-leading collaboration into a solution that enables health care providers to extend and improve care for their patients, where they live.”

The use of wireless monitoring is rapidly increasing. According to a recent research study from Berg Insight, an estimated 2.2 million patients worldwide are already using this type of technology. Berg’s industry analysts anticipate the number of patient connections facilitated by wireless monitoring will reach 4.9 million by 2016. In addition, Technavio estimates the global patient monitoring market will reach $9.3 billion by 2014.

“The BodyGuardian Remote Monitoring System will allow patients to benefit from Mayo expertise wherever they are in the world. The development of this solution has been a team effort, involving Preventice technology experts, Mayo physicians, nurses, engineers and technical staff—all exemplifying Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary team culture,” said Dr. Charles Bruce, a consultant in cardiovascular diseases and internal medicine at Mayo Clinic.

“This platform has the potential to positively impact health-care outcomes. Demonstrating effectiveness and exploring new models of health care delivery will be an immediate priority.”

BodyGuardian RMS is supported by the Preventice Care Platform, a cloud-based mHealth platform that collects real-time data from devices and delivers information to medical monitoring professionals.

Mayo Clinic and Drs. Charles Bruce, Paul Friedman, Virend Somers, and Mr. Kevin Bennet, all of Mayo Clinic, have a financial interest in this technology. Revenue Mayo Clinic receives will be used to advance education and research.

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The provision of healthcare services and information by telecommunication methods – or ‘telehealth’ – holds the potential to change the way many of us receive medical care, states a new report by healthcare sector experts GlobalData.

According to a new research report from London-based Global Data, the worldwide telehealth and telemedicine market will experience a boom in growth over the next few years as technology continues to expand, both in terms of number of applications and availability.

From a 2011 valuation of $13.2 billion, the global market for telehealth and telemedicine will jump to $32.5 billion by 2018, climbing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14%.

According to GlobalData, the key factors driving the industry include the need to increase the reach of quality medical care to remote locations, reduce healthcare expenditure and enable the optimal usage of limited provider resources.

The accelerated growth of robust telecommunication technologies, the increased adoption of related healthcare IT solutions and the readiness of companies and governments to invest are also contributing to the market’s double-digit growth.

Currently the US dominates the industry, holding a 51% share in 2011, but it is the Asia-Pacific region that is estimated to exhibit the most impressive growth.

In 2011, Asia-Pacific contributed $2 billion to the global telehealth and telemedicine market and this is expected to almost quadruple by the end of 2018, to just under $8 billion. This means a CAGR of 21%, while the US and European markets are expected to climb at the less substantial rates of 12% and 13%, respectively.

Growth in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to be driven by improved awareness of the model’s potential for expanding the penetration of affordable medical care to the wider population, with the governments of India and China rapidly adopting and pushing telehealth to cater to the needs of the huge rural patient population.

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Small footprint, low-cost, low-power, and standardized wireless connectivity embedded in wearable devices will transform the lives and activities of millions of consumers and patients over the next five years as wearable wireless-enabled devices increasingly track an individual’s activity and condition.

A new wave of wearable devices are coming to market that will help track and share data from a range of activities and conditions. These devices will track the pace of someone’s daily run, recognize a fall that might have injured a senior, report the blood sugar level in a diabetic, and monitor the heart rate of a patient in hospital.

“The breadth of the potential for this market is not just drawing in consumer giants like Nike and Adidas and established healthcare players such as GE Healthcare and Philips, but a wealth of start-ups and specialist players looking to wearable wireless devices to enable a wide range of networked health applications and services,” says Jonathan Collins, principal analyst, navigation, telematics & M2M.

Over the next five years, the market for wearable wireless devices will grow to 169.5 million devices in 2017, up from 20.77 million in 2011, a CAGR of 41%. While the bulk of the device shipments will be in the consumer-oriented sports, fitness, and wellness market, wearable devices will increasingly be adopted across home monitoring and healthcare service applications as well.

“Remote patient monitoring and on-site professional healthcare use will represent just over 20 percent of the wearable wireless device market by 2017, up from less than half that in 2011.”

“As the devices can be worn and can upload collected data to the network automatically, collected data can not only be more regularly collected but also shared, analyzed, and acted on quicker and more efficiently that existing wired or manpower-laden techniques,” says Collins.

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SMARTVIEW^TM remote monitoring combines intelligent cardiac device features and secure e-health technology to improve cardiac patients’ care and service to healthcare professionals

Sorin Group, a global medical device company and a leader in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and Orange Business Services, a leading global communications solutions integrator, launched today SMARTVIEW, a remote monitoring solution for patients with implanted cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices in several countries in Europe.

Enhanced patient care management
Using the SMARTVIEW remote monitoring solution, healthcare providers can now access valuable cardiac data and alert messages from Sorin’s implantable PARADYM^TM RF devices, while the patient is at home. Combined with remote data transmission, the intelligent proprietary features embedded in Sorin’s CRM devices offer advanced diagnostic capabilities and early detection of cardiac disease progression for enhanced patient management. For patients, the SMARTVIEW remote monitoring solution can reduce time spent travelling to their clinic for routine device checks^1.

“With remote monitoring, I can efficiently review clinical and device data – usually collected during in-office follow-up – while patients stay at home,” said Philippe Mabo, MD, PhD, University Hospital of Rennes, France.
“Also, the SMARTVIEW solution provides information based on Sorin’s advanced device technology that may enable early detection of clinical events and better patient care²,” he added.

Ease of use for patients and healthcare providers
The simple installation of the easy-to-use SMARTVIEW remote monitoring system at the patient’s home is assisted by a dedicated helpdesk powered by Orange Business Services and Sorin. Developed using worldwide best practices, this unique technical set-up assistance provides patients with peace of mind and removes the installation workload from healthcare professionals.

“We are delighted to have developed our remote monitoring solution with Orange Business Services,” said Stefano Di Lullo, president, CRM Business Unit, Sorin Group.

“This partnership has enabled us to introduce an easy-to-use, secure remote monitoring system for physicians and patients alike that leverages Sorin’s intelligent device functions. The introduction of this service adds to Sorin’s growing portfolio of innovative implantable heart therapies designed to save lives and improve patient symptoms.”

Global, scalable e-health platform
SMARTVIEW uses a global, scalable e-health platform from Orange Business Services, backed by the global reach of the Orange network. Healthcare providers can access important clinical insights through a secure 24/7 Web application that provides a user-friendly interface with patient data hosted in Orange’s secure data centers. This platform is made possible by Orange’s strong in-house e-health capabilities, e-health systems integration expertise, and extensive machine-to-machine (M2M) capabilities.

“In the expanding area of remote patient care, Orange Business Services has developed significant expertise in the development and deployment of e-health platforms that facilitate the remote monitoring and measurement of chronic illnesses,” said Thierry Zylberberg, executive vice president, Orange, and general director, Orange Healthcare.
“We are extremely proud to have been able to work with Sorin and to apply our dual expertise as a solutions integrator and network operator to the development and launch of SMARTVIEW.”

About Remote Monitoring
Remote monitoring is designed to facilitate the follow-up care of patients by transmitting data electronically from patients’ implanted cardiac devices to their physicians. Using these valuable data, healthcare providers may detect potential health issues before they become life-threatening and provide timely therapy. This may reduce the need for hospitalization and improve the patients’ quality of life.

Patients with CRM devices require regular check-ups with their physicians to ensure their devices are functioning properly and the appropriate therapy is being delivered. Managing a growing number of patients implanted with CRM devices, as well as the related follow-up, is increasingly demanding for clinicians. Remote monitoring systems which provides physicians access to comprehensive cardiac data recorded by the implanted device while the patient is at home, represents a significant milestone in patient management.

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M2M Leader’s Expertise Enables Efficient, Real-time Connectivity to Medical Device Telemetry

Numerex Corp, a leading single source provider of secure machine-to-machine (M2M) products and services, announced today the company has developed a complete Device-Network-Application (DNA) solution for remote cellular monitoring of MicroMed Cardiovascular Inc.’s HeartAssist5® System.

Numerex led the innovation and development of the new wireless monitoring connectivity and software application for the HeartAssist5® System, the latter consisting of two devices developed by MicroMed: the HeartAssist5® Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) and the MicroMed Controller. The MicroMed HeartAssist5® LVAD was originally developed by the world famous heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey in partnership with NASA. It is the only LVAD with a precise, direct flow measurement system and cellular-based remote monitoring.

“The partnership with Numerex has been spectacular.  They provided the expertise we need along with their Numerex DNA® solution to move our idea quickly and reliably to market,” said Bryan Lynch, Vice President of product development at MicroMed.

Prior to Numerex implementing the new M2M technology, clinicians accessed device data after the body-worn external controller unit was physically plugged into the MicroMed Heart Attendant and transmitted via a local internet connection. This limited mobility and continuous reporting could not occur.

The MicroMed Cardiovascular team sought a solution to improve real-time visibility to the devices and engaged Numerex to integrate a cellular radio into the MicroMed Controller, provide cellular network services, and deliver a web-based application to consolidate and present the reported data for clinicians to review.

“This is a good example of the value-added services Numerex brings to their enterprise customers to deliver new solutions,” said Mike Marett, Chief Revenue Officer of Numerex.

“MicroMed brought their deep domain expertise and a strong core product to us. After which we applied our M2M expertise and leveraged our platforms to enable a rapid product evolution and ultimately enable the many new benefits associated with continuous connectivity and monitoring.”

The MicroMed Cardiovascular M2M application was built using the secure, reliable Numerex FAST® platform.  As part of the Numerex DNA® solution, the firmware was optimized to reduce the size of the data packet transmissions, ultimately optimizing from over 50MB to less than 4MB per month and resulting in significant efficiencies and cost savings. Remote monitoring of the device is now continuous and consistent, allowing for relevant device statistics to be reported around the clock. More importantly, any anomalies in the device are reported in real-time.

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According to market analysis from MarketResearch.com, the wireless health market will experience a CAGR of 19.43% from 2011 to 2016.

MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of the new report “Wireless Health Market (WLAN, WMAN, WPAN, SENSORS, SMARTPHONES, TABLET PC, MOBILE APPS) – Global Trends, Opportunities, Competitive Landscape & Forecasts Till 2016” to their collection of Information Technology market reports.

According to the West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI), wireless health may be defined as “the use of wireless technologies for personal health management and health care delivery. Encompasses solutions that facilitate continuous access to health care information, expert advice, or therapeutic intervention enabled by ubiquitous telecommunication networks. Example applications include real-time monitoring, medication compliance and imaging.”

The wireless health market is segmented on the basis of wireless technologies, handheld devices, and mobile apps across their applications in healthcare amenities (hospitals, nursing homes), pharmaceuticals, medical and diagnostic laboratories, home care, telehealth and by physicians.

The global wireless health market is forecasted to reach $38.51 billion by 2016, at a CAGR of 19.43% from 2011 to 2016.

Wireless technologies segment includes the wireless network technologies and wireless sensor networks market. Wireless network technologies comprises of Wi-Fi, WiMAX, wireless personal area network (Bluetooth, Z-wave, ZigBee, UWB), wireless wide area network technologies (CDMA, GPS, GPRS, 3G) and wireless sensor networks with their applications in healthcare industry. The handheld devices and apps segment comprises of the mobile devices and mobile apps which are contributing to the growing wireless health market. It includes devices such as Smartphones, tablet pc, mobile phone, PDA, pagers and various mobile apps that cater the need of a patient and the healthcare professional.

North America dominated the global wireless health market with around 45% share in 2011. The U.S. captures the largest market share of North America, and shows a remarkable growth opportunity. The second largest market is Europe, and Asia-Pacific region is the fastest growing region with China capturing the largest market share of APAC region.

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Murata Wireless Solutions (MWS) announced the introduction of its SN8200 Wi-Fi network controller module.

The SN8200 is a small, low-power, self-contained, certified Wi-Fi network controller module that provides simple serial-to-Wi-Fi connectivity to the Internet. It is an ideal solution for manufacturers who are looking to add wireless connectivity to home appliances or other devices for the healthcare equipment and industrial control and monitoring markets.

The SN8200 is enabled with Broadcom Corporation’s Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) architecture and SDK. It hosts 11n Wi-Fi, TCP/IP network stack, security supplicant, and other network application features, such as web server, all integrated within the module. It provides Murata’s Simple Network Interface Card (SNIC) serial-to-Wi-Fi interface protocol that treats the Wi-Fi module as a simple serial port. This significantly reduces the development and integration effort for design engineers and shortens time to market.

Additionally, the SN8200 module is FCC- and IC-certified. It is also compliant with ETSI standards EN 300 328 and EN 301 489. The module is capable of extended operating temperature and life-time expectancy that helps to support a variety of applications and environments.

The SN8200 includes the latest and most advanced IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi system-on-chip from Broadcom and an STM32 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 microcontroller from STMicroelectronics that hosts the networking application and provides the network stack and Wi-Fi API. The module also combines a diversity-enabled RF front end, PMU, and onboard antenna.

The SN8200 is the first module from MWS’s network controller module product line. The family is comprised of footprint-compatible modules, with flexible software personalities and hardware configurations to match customer needs. Variants include antenna diversity, microcontroller speed, flash memory size, peripheral interfaces, and advanced software feature options like access point mode, Wi-Fi Direct, Smart Energy Profile 2.0, and IPv6.

Mehul Udani, General Manager of Murata Wireless Solutions, said:

“The SN8200 is a game-changer in design. It provides a rich feature set and easy-to-use, turnkey solution for any application. This will definitely shorten the customer design cycle and greatly enable rapid development of next-generation wireless products”.

“Murata’s SN8200 is the first production ready module that embraces Broadcom’s WICED platform, featuring the BCM43362 Wi-Fi device. Our breakthrough self-hosted Wi-Fi and networking software stack eliminates the impact on host processors in resource-constrained devices. Murata’s combination of Broadcom’s WICED software architecture and SNIC protocol delivers an ideal solution for emerging markets, such as connected appliances, smart energy systems, and cloud-based health and home management services,” said Brian Bedrosian, Product Line Director, Embedded Wireless Local Area Networks, Broadcom.

“The STM32 microcontroller provides a very flexible architecture for the SN8200 and allows for the scalability needed to meet broad market requirements. Our collaboration with Murata will help them serve the emerging M2M market with the most up-to-date wireless connectivity solutions,” said Tony Keirouz, Vice President of Marketing and Applications at STMicroelectronics.

“Wi-Fi has become ubiquitous, with 1.1 billion enabled devices shipped in 2011. An easy-to-integrate, low-power Wi-Fi module that leverages features such as advanced security and network stacks can help manufacturers connect smart devices and sensors in the home, office, or industrial environments. The SN8200 product from Murata addresses this market,” said Alex West, Research Director of IMS Research.

The SN8200 Serial-to-Wi-Fi Network Controller development kits are available now from Avnet for $199. The SN8200 module is priced in the mid to high teens.

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IDEAL LIFE and Sprint today unveiled a new cellular pod that will make it easier than ever for users to manage wellness and monitor chronic conditions remotely.

The pod, which will make its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show Jan. 10-13 in Las Vegas, uses wireless Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication to share information over the Nationwide Sprint Network, which reaches more than 312 million people in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (inclusive of roaming).

The device serves as a communication gateway, creating a remote network for instantaneous, secure, two-way communication between a user and his designated healthcare team. Once activated, the pod automatically syncs (pairs) with any of IDEAL LIFE’s wireless monitoring devices.

The cost of healthcare is one of the preeminent issues of the 21^st century, and IDEAL LIFE’s solutions are proven to improve wellness and reduce costs through education and self-management. Because of a shift toward preventive care, the remote health management industry is set to grow exponentially this decade, and Sprint and IDEAL LIFE’s collaboration will help facilitate proactive prevention among hospitals, physicians, caregivers and patients.

“IDEAL LIFE’s relationship with Sprint was forged early last year with the goal of expanding IDEAL LIFE’s product portfolio to include embedded wireless devices,” said Harvey Goldberg, CEO of IDEAL LIFE, Inc. “This new offering continues that endeavor and is an example of how wireless technologies, combined with medical applications, can transform healthcare delivery.”

The IDEAL LIFE system features FDA-cleared and HIPAA-compliant products, such as the IDEAL LIFE Gluco-Manager (blood glucose meter), IDEAL LIFE BP Manager (blood pressure monitor), and IDEAL LIFE Body-Manager (body weight scale). Users can take readings with their device of choice, and deliver more accurate and immediate data to healthcare providers who can, in turn, share relevant, reliable and actionable information. This information can be delivered on demand, to any location, through collaborative solutions that are mobile, secure and accessible using this new communication gateway.

IDEAL LIFE, an ISO-certified company, which recently received the prestigious Innovations in Healthcare ABBY Award for its efforts to reduce the cost of quality healthcare, is the leader in remote health management and is revolutionizing healthcare by enhancing connectivity with smart technology throughout the care continuum. The most comprehensive system available, the IDEAL LIFE platform enables people to be healthier and more independent, reduces healthcare costs and provides better use of healthcare resources.

IDEAL LIFE provides physicians, caregivers, family and individuals maintaining healthy lifestyles or managing chronic conditions with smart, affordable, wireless, user-friendly technology anytime, anywhere, to fit any lifestyle. Its digital, two-way and interactive technology streamlines the patient-doctor relationship by allowing individuals to become active participants in their own healthcare through education and self-management, involving the physician when appropriate, thereby saving needless trips to the physician’s office while allowing physicians to manage more patients more efficiently.

Wayne Ward, vice president-Emerging Solutions Group, Sprint said:

“Wireless M2M solutions present an opportunity to streamline healthcare and provide greater access to critical patient information at significantly less cost and effort. We are proud to collaborate with IDEAL LIFE to facilitate real-time dialogue and data exchange between individuals and medical professionals. The potential to improve patient wellness and physician efficiency in an on-demand setting is just one example of how connected devices are fundamentally changing every aspect of the way we work and live.”

The pod is available based on specific user needs, offered separately from other IDEAL LIFE devices, and users are not required to have a Sprint account to achieve connectivity with the device. Some products have a monthly service fee that is available free of charge through select health plans.

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Qualcomm Incorporated announced today the formation of a wholly owned subsidiary, Qualcomm Life Inc., which will operate the business formerly known as Qualcomm Wireless Health, as well as the establishment of a $100 million Qualcomm Life Fund, an investment allocation established by Qualcomm Incorporated and to be managed by Qualcomm Ventures, Qualcomm’s investment group.

Qualcomm Life’s first offerings, the 2net Platform and Hub for use in connection with wireless medical devices, are now available in the U.S. and are designed  to interconnect wireless medical devices via cloud-based solutions so that biometric information is easily accessible by device users, their health care providers and caregivers. The platform and hub are intended to transfer, store, convert and display medical device data. The Company also announced that more than 40 customers and collaborators are either integrating with or considering the 2net ecosystem, creating an interoperable and value-enhancing ecosystem of medical devices, mobile medical applications and health services companies.

Rick Valencia, vice president and general manager of Qualcomm Life says:

“Qualcomm Life was founded, in part, to assist medical device manufacturers who approached Qualcomm for help when their own wireless connectivity attempts became untenable due to technology selection errors, unscalable deployment models and prohibitively high operational support costs. Our services, including integration on the 2net Platform, remove the burden for medical device manufacturers of a large technical development effort, providing integration with mobile carriers and solving the operational complexities of supporting wireless medical device data in the field.”

“We believe the 2net Platform and Hub’s promotion of medical device connectivity will enable a sea change in health care, where we observe stressed medical systems burdened by a mounting prevalence of chronic disease,” stated Don Jones, vice president of global strategy and market development for Qualcomm Life.

“Already, several members of the 2net ecosystem are able to provide remote monitoring functionality for chronic disease management, enhancing the quality of care for their patients.”

The 2net Platform makes it easy for companies to connect wirelessly to their medical devices so that data can be made available across the continuum of care. Data is obtained from a patient’s medical device through several gateways, such as the 2net Hub, a mobile phone, another cellular-enabled device or application programming interfaces that connect to the customer service platform. Once the data is acquired from the medical device, it is encrypted and then stored in the 2net Platform over a cellular connection. After the 2net Platform has received the transmission, patient medical device data is transferred to the manufacturers’ interface of choice for the end-user. The 2net Platform is designed to meet HIPAA security requirements and is ISO 13485 certified, meaning it aligns with the quality requirements of U.S. and international regulatory agencies in the health care industry.

The 2net Platform and Hub are individually listed with the FDA as Medical Device Data Systems (MDDS). The 2net Hub plugs into a standard electric outlet and seamlessly connects to integrated partner medical devices via shortwave radio, uploading biometric data over the cellular network to the 2net Platform’s data center, where it can be transferred to the manufacturer-chosen interface, for access by the user. The 2net Hub provides a plug-and-play connectivity solution for medical device manufacturers looking for quick and simple solutions to integrate their devices with the health network and it enables health care services companies to kit together disease management solutions based on multiple medical devices that can communicate with one another and with a single user interface for patients, their providers and caregivers.

“Qualcomm Life’s 2net Platform will expand our ability to connect patients with caregivers, family and clinicians by providing a direct wireless connection within every home,” stated Richard Strobridge, chief executive officer of Entra Health Systems.

“Integration with the 2net ecosystem will open up new markets for MyGlucoHealth Wireless blood glucose meter and diabetes management system within senior care, home health care and assisted living where patients have limited access to wireless technology.”

More than 40 medical device manufacturers, application developers, health care services companies and payors are either integrating with or considering the 2net ecosystem. Qualcomm Life will showcase a broad array of the possibilities for 2net-enabled solutions at the mHealth 2011 conference in Washington D.C., including those being developed by: A&D Medical, Advanced Warning Systems Inc., AirStrip Technologies Inc., Asthmapolis, AT&T, BiancaMed, BodyMedia, Emergency Medical Services Corporation^®, Entra Health Systems, Ingram Micro Inc., MidMark Corporation, Hello Health Inc., Nonin Medical Inc., Numera, ResMed, U.S. Preventive Medicine^® and Venture Corporation Limited.

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Sprint and IDEAL LIFE^® today announced they have launched wireless kiosks for users to capture health and wellness information remotely.

The kiosks transmit medical data using Sprint’s wireless network and are indicative of a trend within the health care industry toward more self-management and preventative care.

IDEAL LIFE is already known for its remote health monitoring platform for individuals with chronic conditions and was recently recognized as a 2011 Innovations in Healthcare ABBY Award winner. Now their new kiosks are designed for high-volume traffic and can be installed in communal settings such as community centers, libraries, schools, employer facilities, living centers, gyms, health clinics and physician offices.

IDEAL LIFE’s digital, two-way and interactive technology streamlines health care delivery by empowering individuals to actively regulate their health through education and self-management, involving the physician when appropriate, thereby saving needless trips to the physician’s office while equipping physicians to manage more patients, more efficiently. Whether measuring blood pressure, weight, blood glucose levels or any other biometric reading, IDEAL LIFE kiosk users are able to provide more accurate and immediate data to health care professionals who can, in turn, respond with relevant, reliable and actionable information.

Using technology to stay connected to health care

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications entails devices other than cell phones talking directly to each other over the Sprint wireless network. In the case of health care, M2M connects consumers—the chronically ill, aging or those who just want to improve overall wellness—with easy-to-use medical applications. The IDEAL LIFE kiosk is an example of how wireless technologies, combined with medical applications, can transform health care delivery.

Wayne Ward, vice president-Emerging Solutions Group, Sprint, said:

“Wireless M2M solutions present an opportunity to streamline health care and provide greater access to critical patient information at significantly less cost and effort.”

“Sprint is proud to collaborate with IDEAL LIFE to facilitate real-time dialog and data exchange between individuals and medical professionals. The potential to impact patient wellness and physician efficiency in an on-demand setting is just one example of how connected devices are fundamentally changing every aspect of the way we work and live.”

The prescription for affordable health care is telemedicine

An IDEAL LIFE-sponsored study of congestive heart failure (CHF) patients showed that remote monitoring using the IDEAL LIFE system offers significant benefits. Among 200 CHF patients, the cost for hospital admissions was reduced from $1.26 million to $540,000.

“IDEAL LIFE already has a strong track record of health care cost reduction,” said Jason Goldberg, president-IDEAL LIFE.

“Our collaboration with Sprint will allow seamless integration into the marketplace with the IDEAL LIFE kiosk, enabling our company to quickly deploy more solutions providing greater access to care and creating additional health care savings.”

Independent studies support IDEAL LIFE’s findings. Statistics from the Health Research Institute suggest that telemedicine has the potential to reduce costs, extend accessibility and enhance overall effectiveness of health care delivery.

• If doctors use wireless applications to remotely monitor patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes or obesity, the annual savings could amount to approximately $21 billion due to a reduction in hospitalization and nursing home costs.
• 88 percent of physicians would like their patients to be able to monitor their health on their own.
• During a two-year study by the Health Research Institute, e-visits were able to replace in-office visits in 40 percent of the 2,531 cases.

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