ShareThisThere's a new cell phone application that could actually save lives: AT&T Inc. is introducing technology that lets patients monitor their heartbeat and automatically transfer the data to their cardiologists using Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones.
The service, offered by MedNet Healthcare Technologies, allows customers who are in AT&T's network range or roaming areas to send the information to a central monitoring center, which then relays the information to their doctor. The service is available for a monthly fee, and doctors must be signed up to use it.
Patients using an older service offered by MedNet have to call a toll-free number and then put their monitoring device near a landline receiver in order to transmit their data to the center.
MedNet also will use AT&T voice services so cardiac technicians and physicians can quickly contact patients if necessary. The service will be available April 21.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Must credit the San Francisco Chronicle
