Intel calls home

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Intel, a company known for its computer microprocessors and "Intel inside" commercials, entered the world of home medical devices last week. Intel has released the Intel Health Guide, which combines an in-home patient device (Intel Health Guide PHS6000) and an online interface (Intel Health Care Management Suite), allowing clinicians to monitor patients in their homes and manage their care remotely. The device received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July. "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 the Intel 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." The Health Guide offers interactive tools for personalized care management and includes vital sign collection; patient reminders; surveys; multimedia educational content and feedback; and communication tools, such as video conferencing and alerts. Intel is working with healthcare organizations like the American Heart Association and the Mayo Clinic to develop unique patient care plans and educational content. Additionally, Intel is working with healthcare organizations like Aetna to conduct pilot studies to help validate the clinical benefits of the Health Guide. These studies focus on the device's ability to improve health outcomes for conditions like heart failure, diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). American Medical Alert Corporation, a national provider of remote patient monitoring devices and 24/7 healthcare communication services, is the first U.S. market channel partner for the Health Guide.