A Look at Top Products on the Market

The population of the United States is aging and more and more people are being diagnosed with chronic diseases. These culminating factors have created the need for high-quality, cost-effective ways to deliver healthcare.

One of those ways is remote health monitoring. Remote monitoring devices are used to store health data, send information from patients to healthcare providers and can be used to improve the quality of care for patients. Now, most remote monitoring devices are wireless and can instantly send physicians and nurses important health data, such as blood pressure levels, through an electronic medical record so that healthcare professionals can monitor individuals’ healthcare from a distance.

Based on their imprint in the industry, the following are some of the top remote monitoring products currently on the market.

 

VitalPoint®. Developed by CJPS Medical Systems, LLC, VitalPoint is lightweight and has an easy-to-use, color, touch-activated screen. Patients receive illustrated, written and detailed verbal instructions reminding them to take vital sign measurements or to complete other health-related activities, like taking medication, reporting symptoms, etc. The device can monitor noninvasive blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation, pulse rate, weight, glucose level, prothrombin time and ratios, temperature, fluid status and provide electrocardiogram data. All monitors are multilingual and are manufactured at a FDA compliant, ISO 13485-certified headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich. The monitors are also available for same day shipping.

VitalPoint sends data via phone line and Internet (wired or WiFi) to its HIPAA-compliant servers. Noncompliance messages or alerts that a patient’s measurements are outside preset limits are sent to caregivers. Health Level Seven International (HL7) compliance allows for seamless data communication/integration to improve healthcare delivery and optimize workflow.

 

Philips. Combining simple technology, broad disease management know-how and expert resources, Philips Remote Patient Monitoring Solutions support faster, more informed clinical decision making and active involvement of patients in their own care. It’s a model demonstrated to provide high-value to clinicians, their patients and healthcare organizations alike.

Patients take their own vital sign measurements daily as prescribed by their healthcare providers. Patients are also expected to respond to personalized, clinician-directed surveys, which can be customized to manage any disease. Vital signs – including weight, blood pressure, pulse, glucose levels, ECG rhythm and others – are taken using small, wireless devices placed in the home. Results are automatically transmitted to Philips secure web-based server via the TeleStation, the in-home communication device that also prompts patients to answer clinician-directed health and risk assessment survey questions.

 

VRI Vital Signs Monitoring. VRI installs a convenient, easy-to-use modem in a patient’s home. The modem plugs into a telephone jack. The client takes their vitals and by touching a single button on the modem, can download the readings to VRI. VRI’s clinicians watch the vitals to determine whether they are in line with expectations. If VRI’s system algorithms determine they are out of line, the company contacts the patient to check on their health and then contacts healthcare professionals to triage the patient to help avoid hospitalization. VRI’s active monitoring ensures that patients get the help that they need.

 

Health Buddy Appliance. One of Bosch’s many health monitoring products, the Health Buddy Appliance is a user-friendly, in-home communication and telemedical device that makes it easy to stay healthy. The setup is simple: patients plug it in and connect it to a phone line or Ethernet cable, and the device will be fully operational. The Health Buddy Appliance has a large screen with text that’s easy to read, even if patients have vision problems. It offers support in multiple languages, including English, Spanish and Dutch. The Health Buddy Appliance has a simple four-button operation system and a tutorial pre-loaded on each application.

The device was awarded Best Product by Business Week and Best Enabling Tool by the Disease Management Association of America.

 

myHalo Senior Monitoring. The myHalo fall detection system is wearable device that does not require patients to press a button to use. The devices are equipped with fall detection technology and use solid state accelerometer sensors and proprietary, low power and advanced motion signal processing techniques. Patients also don’t have to take off the device to do certain activities like reclining in a chair or lying in bed.

Following a fall, myHalo’s automatic fall detection immediately alerts the emergency response team and caregiver. Caregivers will be notified via text, email or a call from myHalo’s 24/7 professional call center, according to the caregiver’s preference. If the fall is serious, an emergency team is sent to the fall site to immediately administer support.

 

Genesis DM Telehealth Monitor. One of Honeywell’s many products, the Genesis DM Telehealth Monitor checks measures heart rate, blood pressure and weight and provides customizable subjective disease-related queries for a more complete picture of an individual’s health. Genesis DM is integrated into the new Honeywell HomMed LifeStream™ telehealth platform, providing web-enabled, on-demand access to disease-specific symptom management, customizable by diagnosis and symptoms. The device also offers automated set- up, automatic patient engagement and an easy-to-use interface to guide the patient while setting up the monitor.

Genesis DM is web-enabled for automatic downloads of patient-specific disease management content, updates and prompts. Honeywell has over 40,000 of these monitors in service worldwide.

Cardiocom®. Cardiocom provides cutting-edge yet user-friendly telemonitoring products and services. Cardiocom’s home telemonitoring equipment and telehealth services enable health professionals to identify symptomatic patients and intervene early to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations. Cardiocom addresses heart failure, COPD, asthma, diabetes, hypertension and obesity. The company offers a variety of health monitoring products and services.

Cardiocom has been ranked as a top-tier telehealth and telemonitoring solution provider and has received numerous awards including the Enabling Technology of the Year, Remote Patient Monitoring Award North America 2011 from Frost & Sullivan.