SAN DIEGO, May 13, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While debate continues within healthcare over the allocation of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Entra Health Systems offers an immediately available solution with MyGlucoHealth that not only can save money in the treatment of diabetic patients, it also provides patients with tools to improve their personal condition. MyGlucoHealth is an integrated telehealth platform supporting patients and healthcare professionals in the monitoring and treatment of diabetes. The MyGlucoHealth meter connects wirelessly to a mobile phone using Bluetooth(r) technology to manage blood glucose testing information and communicate results to the MyGlucoHealth online Portal. MyGlucoHealth is the first FDA cleared and CE certified device of its kind in the world.
"MyGlucoHealth is engineered to increase direct doctor/patient communication, as well as promote regular testing by diabetic patients," said Richard Strobridge, Chief Executive Officer of Entra Health Systems. "With $174 billion having been spent in the U.S. on the treatment of diabetes in 2007, according to the American Diabetes Association, even a small savings through improved testing practices will have a significant financial impact. MyGlucoHealth represents an uncomplicated solution using a mobile phone that provides real-time data directly to the patient, their clinician or caregiver, while at the same time giving them a system to automatically send alerts about their changing condition or to remind them to test."
"Studies have proven that a diabetic patient who tests regularly and effectively uses that information, will be significantly healthier and cost less to treat than a patient who tests infrequently or ignores input from testing," added Strobridge. "Most experts agree that patients with irregular testing patterns cost as much as 10 times more to care for, due to complications and related emergency room visits. Diabetic complications can be extremely expensive to treat, but many could be avoided, if the patient better monitors their condition and manages their diet and exercise."
Integration with Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems
The integration of MyGlucoHealth data within a patient's EHR will help to streamline clinical workflow, leading to improved patient care, as well as reduced treatment costs. By accessing blood glucose records and other related patient information and medical histories in real-time using a mobile phone or PC, physicians and critical care personnel will have instant access to accurate information to better care for the patient.
Demographic data, blood test and other coordinated information about the patient from the MyGlucoHealth online database can readily be shared with any HL7-based Electronic Health Record system or as a continuity of care record using the ASTM standard for personal health records. For the patient with diabetes, integrating real-time testing data within their EHR will provide greater transparency for both the patient and the clinician, as well as a long-term history of patient readings to benchmark.
About MyGlucoHealth(r)
MyGlucoHealth is the first FDA cleared and CE certified Bluetooth blood glucose meter. The meter along with the MyGlucoHealth Network form an integrated telehealth platform supporting patients and healthcare professionals in the control and treatment of diabetes. MyGlucoHealth gives patients more direct control over their care and provides clear lines of communication with clinicians and caregivers.
The MyGlucoHealth meter works in combination with a real-time online data collection network to upload and manage blood glucose readings using a mobile phone or PC. This eliminates the need for patients to maintain personal logbooks, improving data accuracy and removing the opportunity for incomplete or 'manufactured' readings. Using the MyGlucoHealth Portal at www.myglucohealth.net, or regional sites throughout the world, patients securely transmit and evaluate their daily readings while communicating those same results to their families, caregiver or diabetic care specialist.
About Entra Health Systems
Entra Health Systems, headquartered in San Diego, is an international applied technology company whose charter is to improve healthcare management. Entra Health's products and services improve communication between the patient, clinician and caregiver. Entra Health provides technologies that enhance patient care while at the same time reducing the burden on healthcare providers. Improved patient care means better patient outcomes and reductions in the cost of care. For more information visit: www.entrahealthsystems.com or www.myglucohealth.net.
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