FDA approves apps aimed at reducing readmissions, enhancing post-op care effort

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has green lighted two telehealth applications both focused on decreasing hospital readmissions by providing physicians with post-hospital patient data while the patient recuperates at home.

The Philips eCareCompanion and eCareCoordinator apps provide clinicians with access and analysis capabilities and allow patients to manage health while in direct communication with caregivers, according to a MobiHealthNews article. The eCareCoordinator app collects data on vital signs, blood pressure and weight as well as subjective insight from patients via questionnaires and communication interaction using the eCareCompanion, available now for Android devices. It gives patients an opportunity to provide insight on current health conditions.

The software tools were developed earlier this year through a partnership with Salesforce.com, as part of a cloud-based system aimed at helping caregivers track and monitor patients from diagnosis to recovery. Article