| abstract |
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for improving the care of patients (e.g., chronically ill patients). In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive), the invention may be designed to improve such care through real time output (e.g., periodic, such as hourly, daily, weekly or monthly) to deter development of co-morbidities associated with many chronic diseases. Various embodiments of the invention may improve the care of chronically ill patients by: easing data collection, simplifying data transmission, efficiently interpreting chronically ill patient information, providing time series to form the basis of subsequent analysis, expanding the ability of the chronically ill patient or other user of the invention to understand the relationship between the medical practice and the patient's own lifestyle and/or easing the workload of healthcare providers (such as the patient's physician). In this regard, the invention may help in creating dialogue between chronically ill patients and healthcare providers that otherwise would be impossible. |