Intel enters healthcare arena with patient-monitoring device

“Intel has made its foray into the medical market with the release of a care management system that allows physicians to monitor patients with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from their homes.

After two years of development, the release will likely be the first of many medical devices introduced by Intel in the coming years, according to the Portland Business Journal.

The new system, dubbed the Intel Health Guide, is a touch-screen computer that has video conferencing capabilities and a multimedia health education library for patients. Scheduled “check-ups” may be initiated with patients several times a day, asking health-related questions and collecting vital signs, which are sent digitally to medical providers.

Several compatible medical-monitoring devices measuring weight, blood pressure and blood-oxygen levels may accompany the device, depending on patient needs, Intel said.

According to the Portland Business Journal, experts in home-monitoring technology believe Intel may be faced with an uphill battle in getting insurance companies and government agencies to pay for the device, despite the increasing prevalence of medical devices in patients’ homes, as the population ages and the shortage of medical professionals intensifies.”

Makes one wonder what is coming out next