BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is one of the chronic diseases exploiting the largest number of telemedicine systems. Our research group has been involved since 1996 in two projects funded by the European Union proposing innovative architectures and services according to the best current medical practices and advances in the information technology area. METHOD: We propose an enhanced architecture for telemedicine giving rise to a multitier application. The lower tier is represented by a mobile phone hosting the patient unit able to acquire data and provide first-level advice to the patient. The patient unit also facilitates interaction with the health care center, representing the higher tier, by automatically uploading data and receiving back any therapeutic plan supplied by the physician. On the patient's side the mobile phone exploits Bluetooth technology and therefore acts as a hub for a wireless network, possibly including several devices in addition to the glucometer. RESULTS: A new system architecture based on mobile technology is being used to implement several prototypes for assessing its functionality. A subsequent effort will be undertaken to exploit the new system within a pilot study for the follow-up of patients cared at a major hospital located in northern Italy. CONCLUSION: We expect that the new architecture will enhance the interaction between patient and caring physician, simplifying and improving metabolic control. In addition to sending glycemic data to the caring center, we also plan to automatically download the therapeutic protocols provided by the physician to the insulin pump and collect data from multiple sensors.
BACKGROUND:Diabetes mellitus is one of the chronic diseases exploiting the largest number of telemedicine systems. Our research group has been involved since 1996 in two projects funded by the European Union proposing innovative architectures and services according to the best current medical practices and advances in the information technology area. METHOD: We propose an enhanced architecture for telemedicine giving rise to a multitier application. The lower tier is represented by a mobile phone hosting the patient unit able to acquire data and provide first-level advice to the patient. The patient unit also facilitates interaction with the health care center, representing the higher tier, by automatically uploading data and receiving back any therapeutic plan supplied by the physician. On the patient's side the mobile phone exploits Bluetooth technology and therefore acts as a hub for a wireless network, possibly including several devices in addition to the glucometer. RESULTS: A new system architecture based on mobile technology is being used to implement several prototypes for assessing its functionality. A subsequent effort will be undertaken to exploit the new system within a pilot study for the follow-up of patients cared at a major hospital located in northern Italy. CONCLUSION: We expect that the new architecture will enhance the interaction between patient and caring physician, simplifying and improving metabolic control. In addition to sending glycemic data to the caring center, we also plan to automatically download the therapeutic protocols provided by the physician to the insulin pump and collect data from multiple sensors.
Entities:
Keywords:
Bluetooth technology; mobile computing; multi access service; telemedicine
Authors: Steven Shea; Justin Starren; Ruth S Weinstock; Paul E Knudson; Jeanne Teresi; Douglas Holmes; Walter Palmas; Lesley Field; Robin Goland; Catherine Tuck; George Hripcsak; Linnea Capps; David Liss Journal: J Am Med Inform Assoc Date: 2002 Jan-Feb Impact factor: 4.497
Authors: Riccardo Bellazzi; Marco Arcelloni; Giuliana Bensa; Hannes Blankenfeld; Eulàlia Brugués; Ewart Carson; Claudio Cobelli; Derek Cramp; Giuseppe D'Annunzio; Pasquale De Cata; Alberto De Leiva; Tibor Deutsch; Pietro Fratino; Carmine Gazzaruso; Angel Garcìa; Tamás Gergely; Enrique Gómez; Fiona Harvey; Pietro Ferrari; Elena Hernando; Maged Kamel Boulos; Cristiana Larizza; Hans Ludekke; Alberto Maran; Gianluca Nucci; Cristina Pennati; Stefano Ramat; Abdul Roudsari; Mercedes Rigla; Mario Stefanelli Journal: Diabetes Technol Ther Date: 2003 Impact factor: 6.118
Authors: R Bellazzi; C Larizza; S Montani; A Riva; M Stefanelli; G d'Annunzio; R Lorini; E J Gomez; E Hernando; E Brugues; J Cermeno; R Corcoy; A de Leiva; C Cobelli; G Nucci; S Del Prato; A Maran; E Kilkki; J Tuominen Journal: Comput Methods Programs Biomed Date: 2002-08 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: E J Gómez; M E Hernando; A García; F Del Pozo; J Cermeño; R Corcoy; E Brugués; A De Leiva Journal: Comput Methods Programs Biomed Date: 2002-08 Impact factor: 5.428
Authors: C Larizza; R Bellazzi; M Stefanelli; P Ferrari; P De Cata; C Gazzaruso; P Fratino; G D'Annunzio; E Hernando; E J Gomez Journal: Methods Inf Med Date: 2006 Impact factor: 2.176
Authors: William T Riley; Daniel E Rivera; Audie A Atienza; Wendy Nilsen; Susannah M Allison; Robin Mermelstein Journal: Transl Behav Med Date: 2011-03 Impact factor: 3.046
Authors: Iñaki Martínez-Sarriegui; Gema García-Sáez; Mercedes Rigla; Eulalia Brugués; Alberto de Leiva; Enrique J Gómez; Elena M Hernando Journal: J Diabetes Sci Technol Date: 2011-01-01