Health monitoring system

Abstract

A health monitoring system includes a plurality of remote user sites, each remote user site comprising at least one health monitoring device for collection of user health monitoring data, an interactive video device, and a user interface apparatus; at least one remote computing facility configured for signal communication with, and to receive health monitoring data-related signals from, the plurality of remote user sites; and at least one computer, configured for signal communication with the remote computing facility, wherein the interactive video device is interactively coupled with the remote computing facility. Associated methods are also described.

1 . A networked health-monitoring system comprising:
 (a) a plurality of remote patient sites, each remote patient site including
 (i) at least one display, 
 (ii) a hand held unit configured to facilitate collection of patient health-related data, 
 (iii) a memory within said hand held unit, and 
 (iv) a processor within said handheld unit configured to execute program instructions stored in said memory, said program instructions, when executed by said processor at each remote patient site, generate health-monitoring related information on the display and collect said patient health-related data, wherein said program instructions are stored after being received by said hand held unit from at least one central server and allow said hand held unit to update said health-monitoring related information presented on the display; 
   (b) at least one remotely located computing facility including the at least one central server connectable for communication with the hand held units at the remote patient sites via a first network connection; and   (c) at least one health care professional computer configured for signal communication with the central server via a second network connection to receive information based on the patient health-related data collected at the remote patient sites,   wherein hardware and software of the central server (i) transmit the program instructions to the hand held unit at each of the plurality of remote patient sites and (ii) can communicate with the hand held units to reconfigure programs stored at each remote patient site; and   wherein the system is configured to transmit a message for display on at least one remote patient site display.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions for reconfiguring programs effect changes in a treatment regimen, effect changes in analyses or reports generated by the by the system, or effect changes in graphical presentations of the system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes step-by-step instructions. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes results of a test. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the message includes a diagnostic indication related to whether a test has proceeded in a normal fashion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the message is a multi-line message. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the message is educational or motivational. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the message is from the health care professional computer. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system is configured to cause the message to be transmitted to a specific patient at a specific remote patient site. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system is configured to cause the message to be transmitted automatically to the patient. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system enables the patient to choose when to receive the message. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the message is stored before being transmitted to the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to allow a patient at a respective one of said remote patient sites to control the display of health-monitoring related information on the at least one display at the respective remote patient site using at least one menu. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the menu allows the patient to select any operational mode from the set consisting of:
 (a) a display mode for displaying relevant information;   (b) an input mode for providing information; and   (c) a communications mode for establishing a link with the central server.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the menu allows a patient to select a monitoring mode in which at least one of the health-monitoring devices is used. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the hand held unit is configured to facilitate collection of the patient health-related data through a patient at the respective remote patient site using buttons, keys or switches. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the menu allows a patient to display at least one message or instruction from a health care professional. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the system is configured to enable the patient to respond to information on the display by using a cursor or other indicator positioned at a selected item.