Mobile Medicine

The BCI 3180 Pulse Oximeter is an example of health tech monitoring devices that are transforming medicine and patient care. The portable device delivers 30 hours of on-screen pulse rate trending and pulse strength for patients with cardiopulmonary disorders who need careful monitoring. The device measures how much Oxygen is in a patient’s blood stream and is typically used after surgery, in a hospital’s intensive care unit, or at home.


The Center for Connected Health at Massachusetts General Hospital is epitomizing today’s health tech movement by equipping patients with monitoring devices in their homes and teaching them to measure such things as blood pressure, weight, glucose levels, and Oxygen in the blood stream.

Chronic conditions such as cardiac and lung diseases, diabetes, hypertension, and arthritis account for 78 percent of the country’s health care spending, according to a recent report issued by the federal government. Harnessing those costs are a key focus of the Obama administration, which has allotted $19 billion of its $787 billion economic stimulus package toward health information technology.

The health care technology trend is designed to contain skyrocketing health care costs and compensate for a shortage of physicians that is forcing patients to scramble for providers.

Meanwhile, an aging population, including the bulging baby boomers, is stressing the health care system and requiring more services.

Established in 1995, the Center for Connected Health (formerly Partners Telemedicine), is a division of Partners HealthCare in Boston, founded by Brigham and Women’s and Massachusetts General Hospitals.

Using images and data transmission, the center offers treatment programs for wound care, dermatology, diabetes, and cardiac care, with remote consultation.

Today there are as many as 250 patients logging into the center’s data base on any given day. Patients use digital devices to record vital information, and then upload it to the Connected Health secure web site. If the information raises concerns, a nurse or other health provider will call the patient.

A key component, according to Joseph Kvedar, M.D., the Center’s director, is the coaching phone service, which makes patients accountable for keeping track of vital signs. The approach is helping to reduce hospital stays for chronically ill patients, said Kvedar.

“It’s a timely concept,” he said.