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Partners Healthcare Increases Commitment to Connected Health Programs to Deliver Quality Patient Care and Expand Disease Management and Wellness Programs

Posted on: Wednesday, 17 January 2007, 09:01 CST

BOSTON, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Partners HealthCare today announced that it is expanding its commitment to connected health technologies to help increase patient access to quality medical care. Through Partners Telemedicine, the organization has been leading efforts to create a patient- centered model of healthcare delivery, connecting patients to healthcare providers outside of the clinical setting and delivering care where and when it is needed.

Partners Telemedicine today also announced a name change -- to the Partners Center for Connected Health -- to better reflect the broad range of its work in telehealth, remote care and disease and lifestyle management programs under development at Partners. The term "connected health" more accurately describes the opportunities for technology-enabled care programs and the potential for new strategies in healthcare delivery.

"Technology-supported care enables our healthcare professionals to better monitor the health status of their patients once they leave the hospital or doctor's office, respond more efficiently to changes in their health status, and empowers patients to be better informed and connected to their care," said James J. Mongan, MD, president and CEO of Partners HealthCare. "By using available technology to interact one-on-one with patients in their homes, our goal is, ultimately, to improve the quality of life and treatment outcomes for our patients."

Established in 1995, Partners Telemedicine became a leader in applying consumer-ready technologies, such as cell phones, the Internet, and digital cameras, to enhance the patient-physician relationship and deliver quality care where and when it is needed. Today, the Partners Center for Connected Health brings leading medical specialists together with patients -- in their homes, offices and around the world -- to better manage and monitor patient health, offer expert second opinions and provide convenient, personalized medical care and wellness programs.

The Partners Center for Connected Health will be developing new patient care programs focusing on the management of chronic illnesses, including asthma, diabetes, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and mental health, and fitness and wellness programs offered through employers.

"Healthcare providers and institutions, payers, employers and patients are all realizing the potential impact technology can have on the delivery of quality healthcare," said Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, founder and director of the Partners Center for Connected Health. "The center is working to lead this transformation, and we are continuing to invest in the creation of new programs, applications and partnerships to use technology to expand and enhance patient care."

A number of innovative research programs currently underway at the Partners Center for Connected Health are creating new models of care, building platforms across disease categories to improve adherence and treatment outcomes, and establishing remote care opportunities. They include the following:

* Heart failure patients collect vital signs using simple telemonitoring devices in their home, including heart rate, blood pressure and weight. The information is relayed each day to a Partners Home Care nurse, who can detect a potential health crisis and provide immediate intervention. * A first-of-its-kind research program will launch in early 2007, with a major Massachusetts employer, to demonstrate the effectiveness of an Internet-based wellness program to help employees self-manage high blood pressure. * To help patients take medication on time and as prescribed, patients are given a "smart" pill bottle and ambient globe, which changes color if the pill bottle is not opened, to remind patients when medication is overdue.

"Our name change indicates a true commitment and a significant movement in the delivery of healthcare services, to improve the lives of our patients and address the increasing demands and limitations of our current healthcare system in this country," added Dr. Kvedar.

About The Partners Center for Connected Health

The Partners Center for Connected Health is a leader in the use of technology to deliver quality patient care outside of the medical setting. Based in Boston, the Center for Connected Health is applying consumer technologies and online resources in innovative ways, to increase access and improve quality medical services and patient care. The Center for Connected Health also offers expert online second opinions and facilitates enhanced medical education and training through Internet technologies. Visit http://www.connected-health.org/.

About Partners HealthCare

Boston-based Partners HealthCare is an integrated health system founded in 1994 by Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition to its two academic medical centers, the Partners system also includes community and specialty hospitals, community health centers, a physician network, home health and long-term care services, and other health- related entities. Partners is one of the nation's leading biomedical research organizations and a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Partners is a non-profit organization. Visit http://www.partners.org/.

CONTACT: Center for Connected Health: Gina Cella 781-334-4692 ginacella@comcast.net Partners HealthCare: Petra Langer 617-278-1031 planger@partners.org

The Center for Connected Health at Partners Healthcare

CONTACT: Gina Cella of Center for Connected Health +1-781-334-4692, orginacella@comcast.net, or Petra Langer of Partners HealthCare,+1-617-278-1031, or planger@partners.org

Web site: http://www.connected-health.org/http://www.partners.org/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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