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.