Intel Enters Home Care Arena

SANTA CLARA, Calif.–Last week, Intel Corp. rolled out its first
medical device with its introduction of the Intel Health Guide, a
care management tool for patients with chronic conditions.

The Health Guide, which received FDA 510(k) clearance in July,
combines an in-home patient device as well as an online interface,
offering interactive tools for care management. The system–which
includes a touchscreen, a Web cam, Bluetooth wireless connectivity
and a speaker–collects vital signs and gives patient reminders,
displays educational content and offers video conferencing and
alerts.

“The Health Guide is a step forward in offering more
personalized and effective management of chronic health conditions
in the home,” said Louis Burns, vice president and general manager
of Intel’s Digital Health Group. “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. Our products will help address
the challenges of an aging population and rising rates of chronic
disease.”

Intel will license educational content from the Mayo Clinic for
the system, and is working with the American Heart Association to
create care plans for management of patients with heart failure.
Pilot studies of the device are also planned with Aetna, Erickson
Retirement Communities, Providence Medical Group in Oregon and SCAN
Health Plan to focus on improving outcomes for patients with heart
failure, diabetes, hypertension and COPD.

Additionally, Intel plans to use the system’s core
components to build products targeted for areas such as independent
living and programs for health and wellness management and to
support devices such as mobile phones and handhelds.

American Medical Alert Corp., which provides remote patient
monitoring devices and 24/7 health care communication services, is
the first U.S. market channel partner for the Health Guide.