Greetings,

This posting was in my box this morning...... this is another angle on the
impact that the internet, our computers, and health care for the future.

Comments????

Mary Arnold RNC, BSN

*****************************************************
   NEW HAVEN, Conn., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine, from the comfort of your
own home, accurately monitoring your own blood pressure, temperature, pulse
and other vital signs and interactively transmitting and discussing the
results through high resolution video via a computerized, almost "Jetson's-
like" home health support system.  This may soon be coming to a home near
yours.
          In conjunction with National Home Care Week, Howard Taylor,
President,
SNET Custom Business Group, today announced the "SNET LifeNet Solutions(SM),"
SNET's new product and service line which will give SNET a major presence in
the fast-growing health care market.  SNET LifeNet Solutions is a platform
designed to help customers save on health care costs while helping them
retain
a desired quality of life while under medical care, through the benefits of
advanced technology.
          SNET, VNA Health Care Inc. and HealthTech Services Corporation,
have
formed an alliance to conduct a large-scale clinical trial of the first
LifeNet Solutions initiative: Home Telemonitoring Service, a computerized,
interactive patient monitoring and support system.  The Service employs the
HANC(TM) Home Unit (HANC Unit) and HANC(TM) Central Nursing Station and is
connected through SNET's telecommunications network.  The purpose of Home
Telemonitoring Service is to enhance traditional home care and decrease
emergency room visits and unscheduled hospital readmissions.  SNET will
announce the widespread availability of this service sometime next year.
          Home Telemonitoring Service was demonstrated today in real-time at
SNET's
New Haven headquarters.  In a mock living room setting, a stand-in "patient"
followed various audio prompts of the HANC Unit to illustrate its
capabilities.  In a calm, reassuring voice, the HANC Unit prompted the
patient
to conduct her own vital signs monitoring including blood pressure, pulse,
temperature and pulse oxymetry.  The VNA nurse made an interactive video
visit
and initiated phone contact with the patient when the patient did not comply
with the HANC Unit's requests.  All data, including high resolution video
images of the patient, was transmitted via SNET phone lines to a remote
Central Nursing Station at VNA Health Care.
          Complete with audio and video capabilities, the in-home HANC Unit
will
accurately collect and transmit a patient's clinical data over standard SNET
phone lines to a Central Nursing Station, staffed 24-hours-a-day by specially
trained VNA Health Care nurses.  It will also assist in patient education,
and
prompt the patient to take medications and carry out scheduled daily
activities.  The HANC unit is the first home telemedicine product of its
type to receive FDA clearance.
          In making this announcement, Taylor stated, "SNET is leading the
way in
providing advanced telecommunications technologies in health care to help
improve patient care and manage spiraling costs."  Craig Putnal, SNET Project
Manager, Health Care, added, "This first clinical trial of Home
Telemonitoring
Service will give us the critical data that we need to offer it on a
commercial basis."
          Margaret J. Cushman, President, VNA Health Care explained, "VNA
Health
Care is proud to help create a new future for health care, examining new
technologies that will provide the best care possible for patients in the
comfort of their own homes."
          SNET is a Connecticut-based independent telecommunications company
reaching beyond its traditional borders to offer wire, wireless and
information and entertainment services, including local, national and
international calling; mobile communications and publishing, information and
advertising.  The Company is building I-SNET, Connecticut's broadband,
information superhighway to serve all its customers.
          Founded in 1901, VNA Health Care is the most comprehensive home
health and
hospice agency in Connecticut.  A non-profit, Medicare-certified Agency, VNA
Health Care is accredited by both the Joint Commission of Accredited
Healthcare Organizations and Community Health Accreditation Program.  VNA
Health Care, offers a complete range of traditional and high-tech services,
in-home rehabilitation therapies and independent living services to residents
throughout Connecticut.
          HealthTech Services Corporation, based in Northbrook, Illinois, is
the
developer and manufacturer of the hardware and software for Home
Telemonitoring Service.  HealthTech provides innovative at-home health care
solutions that reduce cost, improve quality of care delivery, harness state-
of-the-art technology and support patient independence.
      CO:  Southern New England Telecommunications; VNA Health Care;
HealthTech
     Services Corporation
      ST:  Connecticut
      IN:  HEA TLS
      SU:  PDT