Intel to expand Health Guide in Europe

Intel has announced plans to expand the use of its Health Guide home telehealth system in Europe to target patients with chronic conditions.

The US technology giant will work with strategic partners in France, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands to bring localised versions of the Intel Health Guide to market over the coming year.

The Intel Health Guide combines an in-home patient device, the Intel Health Guide PHS6000, with the Intel Health Care Management Suite, an online interface that allows clinicians to securely monitor patients in their homes and manage care remotely.

The integrated telehealth platform was designed to help meet the challenges of chronic conditions for patients, their family caregivers and the healthcare professionals responsible for their care.

Chronic conditions are projected to account for 70% percent of total health expenditure in Europe, especially if the conditions are poorly managed.

“With the average age of the population in Europe increasing, the number of people with chronic conditions will increase substantially over the coming years,” said Doug Busch, vice president and chief technical officer of Intel’s Digital Health Group.

Busch added: “The announcement today represents a major step forward in addressing new models of care. It demonstrates an industry commitment to developing the personal health market globally, with the goal of utilising technology to improve the lives of seniors and people living with chronic illness.”

Addressing the challenges of an ageing population is a goal shared by the European Commission, which recently adopted its European Action Plan – Ageing Well in the Information Society.

The plan highlights the key role of information and communication technologies in providing older people with a better quality of life and in reducing costs for both health and social care.

The Intel Health Guide is already commercially available in the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland and Australia. In The Netherlands, the localised language Intel Health Guide is now available and Fujitsu is the first market reseller to sell the Intel Health Guide.

In the United Kingdom, BT is the latest market partner selling the Intel Health Guide.

GE Healthcare and Intel recently announced a sales and marketing agreement for the Intel Health Guide in the United Kingdom. GE Healthcare already markets the Intel Health Guide in the United States.

In addition, Intel is working with the Martini Hospital and CurIT in Groningen, the Netherlands, to support pregnant women with diabetes.

In France, Intel is working with Orange Healthcare on a pilot with the Moulins-Yzeure Hospital in the Auvergne region of France to support care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients post-discharge.

In Germany, the Asklepios Hospital Group recently announced a new eHealth-Services strategy and partner model to provide innovative eHealth mobile, online and home health services and solutions, for patients post discharge.

In Spain, Telefonica is working with Intel on a pilot project and plans to announce first findings later this year.

The Health Guide offers interactive tools for personalised care management and includes vital signs collection, patient reminders, surveys, multimedia educational content, and feedback and communications tools such as video conferencing and email notifications. These give patients the tools and support they need to be able to better monitor and manage their condition.

The device can also connect to wired and wireless medical devices, including blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, pulse oximeters, peak flow meters and weight scales.

Using a secure server, healthcare professionals can remotely review and act on this information. Clinicians can then access this data online and better manage each patient’s conditions. Patients are provided with the information, prompts and alerts they need to be able to better monitor and manage their condition.

Links

www.intel.com/healthcare/telehealth.

www.intel.com/healthcare.