Intel Health Guide: Diving Head First Into Home Health Monitoring

After over three years of research, development, andkey to market adoption.
market study, Intel announced the launch of the Intel
Health Guide, an Intel-branded device for remotelyThe real barriers to adoption of remote monitoring and
monitoring and managing patients with chronic illness atother chronic care strategies may be less about
home.functionality than about institutional incentives and
From Intel’s demo one can see that the device is abusiness models ingrained in our health care system.
laptop computer no keyboard and a reversedThe health care market with Medicare in the lead still
touch-screen. Patients can connect and upload bloodrewards health care providers far more for treating
pressure monitors and other medical devices tothe complications of chronic illness than it does for
communicate results with remote health careproactive management and monitoring aimed at
providers. In addition to vital sign data collection, thepreventing them.
health monitoring software also provides patientThe incentive systems that determine the viability of
reminders, surveys, educational content, and othernew models of health care enabled by devices like the
communication tools.Intel Health Guide and the Bosch Health Buddy could
Although Intel appears to be targeting at the samebe about to change, however. With favorable results
chronic disease management market, the Health Guidefrom the Medicare chronic care improvement
from Intel adds features and functions far beyond itsdemonstration project currently underway from Health
predecessor Health Buddy from Health Hero Network,Hero Network in Washington and Oregon, Medicare
now a division of Robert Bosch. It will be interesting tocoverage for health care providers to offer home
see whether or the enhanced functionality such ashealth monitoring services may be around the corner.
video conferencing and multimedia content will be the