Council on Aging, Health Hero Launch Interactive Health Monitoring Program in Santa Clara County
The Council on Aging-Silicon Valley Inc. and Health Hero Network have launched a pilot program in Santa Clara County that uses interactive technology to monitor the health of the elderly and people with disabilities. Through the program, up to 200 COA patients will receive the Health Buddy, a device developed by Health Hero that connects to a patient's phone line. The Health Buddy sends answers to daily questions about patients' health to the iCare Desktop, which monitors patients' responses. Based on those responses, COA care managers can identify and respond to "potentially serious problems." The program is intended to increase the "frequency and quality" of communication with patients and reduce health care costs by cutting down on hospitalizations and emergency room visits. The program began in October and will be evaluated for six months. If the program achieves "significant" cost savings, COA will offer the program as one of its home- and community-based services (Health Hero Network release, 11/8).
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