Abstract: Methods and platforms for enhancing collaboration and communication between a patient and his healthcare team are described. A personal health record is created for a patient and maintained by a service provider. The health record is updated with self-monitored or remote device readings. These readings are sent, in a secure format that insures patient privacy, to the service provider and inserted into a health record via a computer connected to the Internet or via a telephone line without the use of a computer, i.e., by directly connecting an intermediate device to a phone outlet. Other health and wellness data may be written to the health record via a computer or via conventional means. By enhancing collaboration between patients and their healthcare teams, patients are more likely to improve their health conditions, particularly chronic conditions, and reduce healthcare costs.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for transmitting medical and health-related data from self-monitoring diagnostic devices via an intermediate device to a central server or data repository where the intermediate device is adaptable to numerous medical and health meters. A method of transmitting metric data from a medical data collecting device to a server computer is described. A cable type is first determined once a self-monitoring diagnostic device is connected to an intermediate data trafficking device, connected to a telephone line or a PC with Internet access. A value representing the cable type is then transmitted from the intermediate device to a server computer. The intermediate device receives diagnostic device configuration information or intelligence from the server computer. Using this intelligence, components internal to the intermediate device are then configured to enable communication between the self-monitoring device and the data repository or central server.

Abstract: Methods and platforms for enhancing collaboration and communication between a patient and his healthcare team are described. A personal health record is created for a patient and maintained by a service provider. The health record is updated with self-monitored or remote device readings. These readings are sent, in a secure format that insures patient privacy, to the service provider and inserted into a health record via a computer connected to the Internet or via a telephone line without the use of a computer, i.e., by directly connecting an intermediate device to a phone outlet. Other health and wellness data may be written to the health record via a computer or via conventional means. Personal health records are created with minimal effort from healthcare professionals and patients.

Abstract: A method of transmitting data over a network in a secure manner while keeping overhead low is described. Various components for a web page are retrieved and a web page is formed. The web page has some components in which sensitive data is stored in XML data islands. It is then determined which of the XML data islands contains sensitive data, such as health or medical data or financial data that is specific to an individual. These XML data islands are encrypted using an appropriate encryption routine, not limited to SSL. Once the data islands containing the sensitive data are encrypted they are transmitted over a network. The encryption routine used to secure the sensitive data is chosen based on the level of security desired before sending the data over the network and the amount of overhead resulting from the encryption that the user is willing to accept. The overhead can be reduced by using a less rigorous encryption routine and thereby increasing performance and speed.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for transmitting medical and health-related data from self-monitoring diagnostic devices via an intermediate device to a central server or data repository where the intermediate device is adaptable to numerous medical and health meters. A method of transmitting metric data from a medical data collecting device to a server computer is described. A cable type is first determined once a self-monitoring diagnostic device is connected to an intermediate data trafficking device, connected to a telephone line or a PC with Internet access. A value representing the cable type is then transmitted from the intermediate device to a server computer. The intermediate device receives diagnostic device configuration information or intelligence from the server computer. Using this intelligence, components internal to the intermediate device are then configured to enable communication between the self-monitoring device and the data repository or central server.