Intel expands availability of Intel Health Guide across Europe

- Next-Generation Remote Patient Monitoring Solution Enables More Personalised Care Management for Chronic and Age-Related Conditions

Intel is expanding availability of the Intel Health Guide across Europe to help address chronic care challenges - Intel is working with strategic partners in France, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands to bring localised versions of the Intel Health Guide to market over the coming year

Intel announced today at the World Congress for Information Technology that it will be expanding availability of the Intel(R) Health Guide in Europe and is working with strategic industry partners in France, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands to bring localised versions of the Intel Health Guide to market over the coming year.

The Intel Health Guide, a regulated device that carries the CE mark under the EU Medical Device Directive, combines an in-home patient device, the Intel Health Guide PHS6000, with the Intel Health Care Management Suite, an online interface that allows clinicians to securely monitor patients in their homes and manage care remotely. It was designed to help address the challenges of chronic conditions for patients, their family caregivers and the healthcare professionals responsible for their care.

"Chronic conditions can account for 70 percent of total health expenditure in Europe, especially if the conditions are poorly managed. With the average age of the population in Europe increasing, the number of people with chronic conditions will increase substantially over the coming years," said Doug Busch, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of Intel's Digital Health Group. "The announcement today represents a major step forward in addressing new models of care. It demonstrates an industry commitment to developing the personal health market globally, with the goal of utilising technology to improve the lives of seniors and people living with chronic illness."

Addressing the challenges of an ageing population is a goal shared by the European Commission, which recently adopted its European Action Plan - Ageing Well in the Information Society. The plan highlights the key role of information and communication technologies in providing older people with a better quality of life and in reducing costs for both health and social care. Between now and 2013, the EU and its member states will invest more than EUR1 billion in research and innovation in these technologies.

Intel's commitment to addressing the global challenges of an ageing population

The Intel Health Guide is already commercially available in the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland and Australia. In The Netherlands, the localised language Intel Health Guide is now available and Fujitsu is the first market reseller to sell the Intel Health Guide. In addition, Intel is working with the Martini Hospital and CurIT in Groningen to conduct a pilot project using the Intel Health Guide, funded through local and European subsidies. In this project, the Intel Health Guide is used for pregnant women with diabetes.

Intel is also continuing to work with other leading market channel partners to bring the Intel Health Guide to market globally, and additional localised European language versions of the Intel Health Guide will be announced later this year.

- In France, Intel recently announced its collaboration with Orange Healthcare and plans to cooperate on a telehealth pilot project with the Moulins-Yzeure Hospital in the Auvergne region of France to support care of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients post-discharge using the Intel Health Guide. - In Germany, the Asklepios Hospital Group - one of Europe's largest private Hospital Groups - recently announced a new eHealth-Services strategy and partner model to provide innovative eHealth mobile, online and home health services and solutions. Asklepios and Intel will cooperate on a joint telehealth pilot project to support care of Asklepios patients post-discharge using the Intel Health Guide. - In Spain, Telefonica is working with Intel on a pilot project and plans to announce first findings later this year. - In the United Kingdom, BT is the latest market partner selling the Intel Health Guide. GE Healthcare and Intel recently announced a sales and marketing agreement for the Intel Health Guide in the United Kingdom. GE Healthcare already markets the Intel Health Guide in the United States.

A comprehensive personal health system

The Intel Health Guide allows clinicians to monitor patients in their homes and manage care remotely via a secure server. It was designed to help address the challenges of chronic conditions for patients, their family, carers and the health care professionals responsible for their care. The system offers interactive tools for personalised care management and includes vital signs collection, patient reminders, surveys, multimedia educational content, and feedback and communications tools such as video conferencing and email notifications. It can connect to specific models of wired and wireless medical devices, including blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, pulse oximeters, peak flow meters and weight scales.

Using a secure server, health care professionals can remotely review and act on this information. As a result, clinicians have ongoing access to data so that they can better manage each patient's conditions. Patients benefit from customised care in the comfort of their home and can also monitor their health status and communicate with care teams.

The localised versions of the Intel Health Guide are Continua-compliant, signalling Intel's commitment to standardisation and interoperability. The Continua-compliant English language version will be released later this year. In June 2006, Intel and other founding member companies announced the formation of the Continua Health Alliance. Today, the Alliance has over 200 members from business and representative organisations. This open industry group seeks to ensure that health technologies are compatible, meet common standards and work seamlessly together. The main focus of the Alliance is on creating guidelines for industry across three major categories: chronic disease management, monitoring the health and healthcare needs of ageing people and proactive health and fitness.