A Diagnostics & Imaging Week

Authentidate (Berkeley Heights, New Jersey), a provider of secure workflow management software and web-based services, said it has formed a joint venture with EncounterCare Solutions (Palm Beach Gardens, Florida), a provider of technology and services for the home healthcare market.

The joint venture, ExpressMD Solutions, will provide in-home patient vital signs monitoring systems and services to improve care for patients with chronic illnesses and reduce cost of care by delivering results to their healthcare providers via the Internet.

According to the companies, Express MD will combine EncounterCare's Electronic House Call patient vital signs monitoring appliances with a specially designed web-based management and monitoring software module based on Authentidate's Inscrybe Healthcare platform. ExpressMD will enable unattended measurement of patients' vital signs and related health information, the companies said. Patients' data will then be securely sent electronically to each patient's health care provider for review. ExpressMD will be designed to aid wellness and preventative care, and deliver better continuity of care to specific patient segments such as the elderly, special needs or pediatric patients with chronic illnesses who require regular monitoring of serious medical conditions.

According to a January research study conducted at the State University of New York at Fredonia, the demand for patient monitoring systems in the primary healthcare sector in the U.S. is forecast to increase 5.9% a year to an estimated $12 billion market by 2012 based on expected contributions to positive therapeutic outcomes and efficiencies. Additionally, the study indicates that the market for self-monitoring activities will also expand as treatment for chronic care patients, especially patients with asthma, diabetes and heart disorders focuses on preventative care.

ExpressMD's patient monitoring system is intended to provide patients with increased peace of mind and improved condition outcomes through a combination of care plan schedule reminders and comprehensive disease management education on their in-home communication unit.