Company officials have expectations to proceed with submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by mid-1999. The GlucoWatch performs frequent measurements that can be used by diabetics to better control blood glucose levels. Reverse iontophoresis provides non-invasive extraction, and data can be collected and stored at the rate of three measurements an hour for up to 12 hours. Other features will include an alert system, longer data storage times, and the capability to download recorded information to a personal computer. In addition to providing immediate access to medical professionals at any time, videophone-based systems support maintenance of quality care as well as cost effectiveness and more appropriate use of limited medical resources.
Patient satisfaction is also extremely high.
The ideal home care telemedicine solution, however, would integrate advice nurse services with centralized units in oncology departments, physicians, offices, etc. to provide even greater communication between a variety of health care professionals and each chronically-ill or homebound patient. Other advances still needed are ways to validate each visit and to store still images for physician review at a later time. This isn't happening yet for telemedicine, but reimbursement should contribute to expanded service levels in 1999. The Telemedicine Market Business models are being adopted for Telemedicine, with the goal of making money while also increasing access to medical services. U.S. military and space exploration projects, of course, have demonstrated the types of organizational and technical components that are needed to ensure fast, reliable communication and treatment.