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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- We have become accustomed to technology changing the way we shop, listen to music, and even stay in touch with our friends and family. However, managing an illness or disability remains a frightening, stressful, and challenging experience for millions of Americans relying on an antiquated system that has not seen the benefits from the technological revolution.
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Meridian Health, a not-for-profit hospital and healthcare provider based in New Jersey is an unlikely exhibitor at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), but one with an important message: technology innovators can turn emerging consumer products into new healthcare solutions. Through unique partnerships with innovators and product developers like Intel, IBM, and Smart Design, Meridian is piloting new uses for leading edge digital, sensory, and common consumer technologies to provide new solutions for patients and families.
With an academic medical center, two community hospitals, a children's hospital, in-home care services, nursing homes, and other health care facilities, Meridian is an organization on the front lines of today's health care battles. A rapidly aging population, the climbing number of uninsured, escalating cost for care, and declining rate of government and managed care reimbursement, are just a few of the challenges that continue to make healthcare one of the nation's number one issues. The need for technologies to integrate into the healthcare system can seamlessly connect patient-to-doctor-to-hospital, while reducing errors and unnecessary hospitalizations.
Together with several of its technology partners, Meridian is hosting the Digital Health Tech Zone (74448E) at the Sands Expo and Convention Center at the 2009 CES. Technologies highlighted in the Tech Zone include remote clinical vital sign management; in-home safety, fall and sleep monitoring; and mobile phone-based chronic disease management.
New Jersey's Monmouth and Ocean Counties, where Meridian is based, is home to one of the largest senior populations in the nation and as a result, Meridian is aggressively evaluating alternative ways to manage common problems associated with aging.
"New approaches to keeping people healthy and independent longer through the use of person or home based technologies will enable our organization to provide personalized solutions that fit seamlessly into our patient's daily lives," says Sandra Elliot, director of Consumer Technology and Service Development at Meridian. "The experience and expertise of a not-for-profit health care provider, combined with the talents of technology innovators is defining how home based technologies can create a safer and more clinically efficient health care system with national applications."
Meridian Health has been named one of the top 100 Most Wired and top 25 Most Wireless Health Systems in the United States, and is among New Jersey's most highly rated health care providers for clinical quality. For more information, please visit www.meridianhealth.com.
SOURCE Meridian Health System
