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ZigBee, American Telemedicine Association Collaborate

November 19, 2009

The ZigBee Alliance and the ATA will educate health care professionals and consumers on wireless health care solutions.


SAN RAMON, CA and WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The ZigBee Alliance and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) will educate both health care professionals and consumers on benefits of telecommunications technologies as part of a new liaison agreement. The groups will focus on the many capabilities of ZigBee Health Care, an open standard for secure monitoring and management of noncritical, low-acuity health care and wellness services.

ZigBee Health Care is designed to reduce patient care costs while improving care and quality of life for patients and consumers. ZigBee Health Care offers the ATA a ready-to-implement telehealth solution featuring interference-free and secure wireless connectivity, capable of supporting many common noncritical medical devices. It also provides a robust network ideal for secure, remote patient monitoring and one that helps aging and physically challenged people remain independent.

"Today's requirements to reduce health care cost while maintaining and further improving high quality levels of medical care to a burgeoning population calls for a very robust, cost-effective wireless technology that supports independent living and remote chronic disease management," said Jonathan Linkous, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association. "Collaborating with the ZigBee Alliance will support the ATA mission of promoting state-of-the- art technology solutions for telehealth applications that can benefit everyone."

The ZigBee Alliance and the ATA will work together to advocate telecommunication solutions, like ZigBee Health Care, to diverse groups ranging from traditional medicine, academic medical centers, technology and telecommunications companies, e-health, medical societies and government, emphasizing the benefits telecommunication technology provides in improving the quality and efficiency of medical care to patients.

"We are honored to be working with the American Telehealth Association to expand telehealth solutions for all consumers and care providers," said Dr. Robert Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "ATA's members are a knowledgeable community of technology, medical device and health care industry leaders who can help us deliver greater independence, safety and improved health to everyone everywhere, every day."

ZigBee Health Care
ZigBee Health Care provides a global, open standard for interoperable wireless devices enabling secure monitoring and management of noncritical, low-acuity healthcare services targeted at chronic disease management, obesity and ageing. It provides full support for IEEE 11073 devices. The standard is designed for use in homes, fitness centers, retirement communities, nursing homes and a variety of medical care facilities. It meets the requirements of consumers, service providers, care providers, payers, product manufacturers and policymakers. ZigBee Health Care certified products can interact with other ZigBee certified products found in residential and commercial settings.

About American Telemedicine Association
ATA is the leading resource and advocate promoting access to medical care for consumers and health professionals via telecommunications technology. ATA seeks to bring together diverse groups from traditional medicine, academic medical centers, technology and telecommunications companies, e-health, medical societies, government and others to overcome barriers to the advancement of telemedicine through the professional, ethical and equitable improvement in health care delivery.

About the ZigBee Alliance
ZigBee is the global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to work together and enhance everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of more than 300 member companies driving development of ZigBee. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in energy, home, commercial and industrial areas.






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