FDA Gives Green Light to MedApps’ Personal Health Device

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted 510(k) market clearance for a wireless system developed by Scottsdale, Ariz.-based MedApps Inc. that links patients, families and healthcare providers by remotely collecting, transmitting and storing health information, according to the firm.

The system features the HealthPAL, a small portable personal health device, to collect and transmit readings from glucose meters, blood pressure monitors, weight scales and pulse oximeters. Health readings from these devices are useful in maintaining wellness regimens and can assist clinicians in their treatment of patients with chronic diseases, according to the company. The collected data is automatically transmitted to a secure server where it can be accessed by healthcare professionals or stored to an online electronic personal health record such as Microsoft HealthVault or Google Health.

“Our entire system is designed around a single criterion—increasing patient compliance,” said Kent Dicks, MedApps founder and CEO. “Patient compliance is greatly dependent on simplicity, and simplicity helps drive costs down and reliability up. It’s key in keeping patients engaged and healthcare costs in check, and it’s no coincidence that we have significantly improved patient compliance in all of our pilots.”

The MedApps system offers healthcare professionals the opportunity to monitor patient conditions and manage diseases at earlier stages. Additionally, the system provides patients with more user-friendly tools, which enables them to take a more active role in their own health management.