VNA of Western New York, Oldest Visiting Nursing Association, Selects Advanced Cardiocom® Telemonitoring Technology
PR Newswire

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., January 22, 2008 – The Visiting Nursing Association (VNA) of Western New York, the oldest VNA in the country, today announced that it has entered into a business relationship with Cardiocom® Multi-Disease Management to provide the latest in home telemonitoring technology to patients with chronic illness.  Cardiocom is a world class developer and manufacturer of the patented Commander Home Telemonitoring System.  The award-winning Cardiocom Commander System provides unique two-way nurse-to-patient messaging.  Using the advanced technology, individuals can manage their health condition by transmitting their daily health signs and symptom data to a VNA of Western New York home health nurse.

In 1885, the visiting nursing movement was born in Buffalo.  Today, the Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York is the largest home health agency in Western New York, servicing more than 24,000 patients annually.   The role of home telemonitoring in supporting patient care is becoming increasingly important to the VNA, as patients are spending less time in hospitals recuperating from surgery, illness or injury.  The VNA views home telemonitoring as an important component of their treatment of patients with chronic disease, with the objective of keeping them out of the hospital and functioning fully in their homes.   Daily telemonitoring connects the patient to their VNA nurse and allows the individual to maintain their independence while receiving comprehensive health services in the privacy and comfort of their home.

“The Commander Home Telemonitoring System is an important tool to aid in ensuring a smooth transition from a hospital, nursing home or clinic to home and in avoiding unnecessary re-hospitalizations,” says Lisa Greisler, Director of Clinical Services for the VNA.  By transmitting objective real-time health data every day, the patient is connected to our medical team so that their medications or treatment plans can be changed as needed.  We anticipate that Cardiocom's unique system will improve patient engagement, quality of life, and provide clinical efficiency for the medical management team,” adds Greisler.

The Commander Home Telemonitoring System device can be set-up by the patient or their caregiver in minutes, without the need for a nurse visit.  The patient easily connects peripheral equipment such as a weight scale, blood pressure cuff, blood glucose meter, peak flow meter or pulse oximeter, which measure biometric data.  When the system is turned on, a friendly voice prompts the patient to respond to health status questions and transmit vital sign data using a standard phone line in about 30 seconds.  Cardiocom has also recently released its newest device, Commander Cellular, which was awarded the Consumer Health Awards 2007 “Best Initiative to Improve Patient Care”.

About Visiting Nurse Association of Western New York
The Visiting Nursing Association of Western New York, Inc. (www.vna-wny.org), is the leading provider of superior quality home health services serving the eight western counties of New York State.  Founded in 1885, the VNA of WNY is one of the largest VNA's in the country, and an integral part of the healthcare landscape of its community.  The organization has established successful relationships with most area hospitals and sub-acute care providers.  Serving thousands of physicians throughout the marketplace, the VNA of Western New York also works in close concert with most area HMOs and insurance companies, as well as the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

About Cardiocom LLC
Cardiocom (www.cardiocom.com) is an award-winning leader in innovative patient telemonitoring and disease management solutions.  Founded in 1997, Cardiocom develops, manufactures and markets its own telehealth devices for congestive heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, COPD, severe asthma, and ESRD.  GlucoCom™ (www.glucocom.com), a division of Cardiocom providing blood glucose monitoring products, was added to the product line in 2006.  Cardiocom’s clients include some of the most respected health plans, hospitals, physician groups, home health groups and disease management vendors in the nation.  Through these established relationships, Cardiocom improves the lives of thousands of people each day.

Contact
Cardiocom 888-243-8881 or info@cardiocom.com