AT&T has announced that it will incorporate MedApps' remote-monitoring
products into its ForHealth portfolio of health-care IT products.
In November, AT&T formed
the ForHealth unit to combine the company's current health-care IT
offerings in mobile health, telehealth and the cloud with other companies'
products, such as MedApps' suite, to help patients monitor chronic conditions,
such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.
As part of the agreement made public on Jan. 5, MedApps will incorporate its
CloudCare line into ForHealth, allowing users to access m-health services in
the cloud.
"MedApps' focus on cloud computing and open-platform architecture--allowing
connection of multiple clinical devices to a single plug-and-play hub--is highly
aligned with AT&T's vision," Randall Porter, assistant vice president
for AT&T ForHealth Solutions, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, AT&T will connect the MedApps suite to its 3G network and
sell MedApps' remote-care monitoring hub and enterprise back-end products with
AT&T's ForHealth applications.
"It will help AT&T offer m-health solutions that are user-agnostic
and universally accessible, despite carrier, device type or operating
system," Porter said.
When designing health-care IT applications that reach a diversity of
demographics it is essential to get patients to comply with medical procedures,
according to Kent Dicks, CEO of MedApps.
"In looking at health care and disease management, it is important to
remember that different subsets of the population have much different rates of
utilization of health-care resources," Dicks said in a statement.
"This is an essential and highly attainable way to reduce health-care
costs immediately."
MedApps' remote-monitoring portfolio also features HealthPal (a portable
device that allows patients to transmit readings automatically from glucose
meters), blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters and scales to their EHR
(electronic health record) using embedded cellular and Bluetooth connectivity.
Weighing about 3 ounces, HealthPal incorporates GPS,
features an OLED screen that displays medical readings, and sends programmable
reminders to help patients remember to test themselves.
As 2011 progresses, companies will increasingly roll out m-health
devices that connect patient data to their EHRs, in a doctor's office, or a
PHR (personal health record), in cloud
services such as Google Health or Microsoft HealthVault.
Health Care IT News & Reviews 
