Intel and GE to work together in home health care industry

The endeavor of the $250 million research partnership shall be to build up technology that caters to the needs of the aged and chronically ill patients. The money would be spent on research and development over a five year period. The specifics as to how much would be contributed towards the research effort by each company were not disclosed. Intel spokeswoman Shannon Love said, “It's too early to say right now.”

This is not the first time that Santa Clara based Intel has had a brush with the health care market. In November last year, the company had launched a home medical monitor, called the Health Guide, primarily for patients with chronic problems. The apparatus, a medical monitor with a web interface, includes a home health laptop, web application and a database.

Akin to an alarm clock, the Health Guide can beep at a preset time to jog the patient’s memory. It can enable patients to seek answers to their questions from the database. Since the Health Guide is equipped with equipments like glucose reader, blood pressure cuffs and other sensors, it is likely to benefit patients suffering from heart failure, hypertension and diabetes.

As a part of the present agreement, Fairfield, Connecticut based GE will lend its expertise in sales to help Intel's Health Guide reach a wider audience in the United States. By taking care of patients at home, the companies expect to reduce pressure on the U.S health care system that is currently grappling with huge costs.

Intel's CEO and President Paul Otellini noted, “We simply do not have enough facilities, doctors or nurses to provide quality health care for this aging population. Quality of life is best when people are in their homes and able to live as they choose."

The home health monitoring and telemedicine market in the U.S is expected to grow from the current $3 billion to $7.7 billion by 2012. GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said, “This is a first step in what we believe could be a big scale business.”