Revolutionary Home Health Monitoring Solution announced

Patients with chronic illnesses may soon be able to monitor their vital signs, such as pulse, blood pressure and glucose levels, and send the information to their doctor from a cellphone, researchers announced yesterday.

A new handheld high-tech device, dubbed the Home Health Monitoring Solution, has been developed by technology giant LG Electronics in partnership with Capital Health in Edmonton and the University of Alberta.

The prototype of what officials described as a first of its kind uses new sensing technology to allow patients to send their physiological information wirelessly to their health-care provider.

Eventually, it may be configured to be built right into a cellphone just as photography and music capabilities are today.

Neil Wilkinson, chairman of the Capital Health Board, said the gadget could potentially be used by patients with diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions that require frequent checkups.

It could be particularly useful for seniors with limited mobility, patients who live in rural areas and those on new medications who require constant monitoring.

Neil Wilkinson, chairman of the Capital Health Board, said the gadget could potentially be used by patients with diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions that require frequent checkups.
It could be particularly useful for seniors with limited mobility, patients who live in rural areas and those on new medications who require constant monitoring.

Kwyro Lee, an executive vice-president of LG Electronics who travelled to Edmonton from South Korea to take part in yesterday's announcement, described the Alberta government as a "matchmaker" for initiating the partnership between researchers in the province and his company's engineers.

Dr. Lee, who is also head of LG's research institute, said he hopes to create a new medical device that will help patients not only in Alberta, but across the continent.

The first stage of tests in the three-year project is set to begin next month.
It will involve monitoring blood pressure, pulse and temperature.
Down the road, glucose levels and other blood chemistry markers will be added as features.

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Edmonton health region renovates residences to lure nurses

Capital Health is spending $1.2 million to renovate a residence, apartment building and house to attract health workers from other countries to Edmonton.

A former nurses' residence at the Misericordia Community Hospital and an apartment building connected to the Royal Alexandra Hospital will provide temporary homes for 77 nursing recruits from other provinces and overseas.

Capital Health is also renovating a five-bedroom house near the University of Alberta Hospital.

"One of the biggest challenges these new nurses are going to face is housing and by providing the new temporary accommodations we're hoping to ease their transition to both Edmonton and Canada," said John McPhail, vice-president of the health region's human resources in a news release last Friday.

The renovations, which include new flooring, paint and sprinkler systems to meet current fire codes, are expected to finish in March 2008.