WASHINGTON – Cisco and UnitedHealth Group officials plan to build a nationwide telehealth network to deliver healthcare services to rural and underserved areas.

The new “Connected Care” program combines Cisco technology with health resources from the UnitedHealth Group to expand physicians’ reach and help mitigate disparities in healthcare delivery.

“Connected Care is the house call for the 21st Century and is our latest innovation providing people with greater access to quality care,” said Stephen J. Hemsley, chief executive officer of the UnitedHealth Group. “The combination of Cisco’s technology and our national healthcare resources will make it easier for people to receive care where distance has been an obstacle.”

The companies unveiled l the UnitedHealth Group Connected Care mobile clinic – an 18-wheel clinic showcasing the technology and connectivity available through the network – on Capital Hill.

“In developing advanced telemedicine technologies, we’re unlocking new possibilities for how patients can interact with doctors and medical staff. The in-person visit with a doctor is no longer the sole ‘gold standard’ method for delivering high-quality health care services,” said Kaveh Safavi, vice president of Cisco’s Global Healthcare Practice. “Instead, we’ve now introduced a new care at-a-distance healthcare delivery model that better connects people, information and processes into one continuum of care. This new technology-enabled delivery model will improve productivity and efficiency in healthcare while at the same time minimizing costs for access to quality care services.”

Officials also released the pilot results of Cisco HealthPresence, which combined video, audio and medical information to help remote physicians evaluate employees at Cisco’s San Jose, Calif. headquarters in October 2008. The project’s goal was to determine its usefulness as an alternative to in-person doctor’s visits.

Key findings of the pilot include:

• 97 percent said they were able to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals using the service.
• 98 percent said they were comfortable using the technology.
• 90 percent said they would recommend the service.

“It’s clear that there is a global demand for better access to healthcare resources that can provide patients with the best possible care,” said Safavi. “Simply making more doctors available is often not possible. Cisco HealthPresence is an example of our innovative approach to developing technologies that improve the quality of the healthcare experience, simplify healthcare communications and connect patients with medical providers in a convenient and efficient manner.”

Cisco is planning to expand HealthPresence pilots to employees around the United States and expand the participating provider network to include specialists.

“Working collaboratively with regional healthcare providers and state and federal government organizations, UHG and Cisco believe that it is possible to extend the use of these kinds of solutions to communities throughout the United States,” said Steve Rodgers, executive vice president of the UnitedHealth Group.

UnitedHealth Group officials also announced a partnership with Project HOPE, the international health education and humanitarian assistance organization, which will receive a Connected Care mobile clinic to help residents in New Mexico obtain health screenings and treatment focused on identifying and addressing diabetes and other chronic diseases.