ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Humana has launched a pilot project aimed at boosting the care of members with congestive heart failure. The insurer will employ the Intel Health Guide to reach patients in their homes across the country.

Humana CEO Mike McCallister unveiled the project March 18 at Humana Cares, the St. Petersburg, Fla.-based program that provides personalized health coaching via telephone, care management and health education and support to about 123,000 Humana members.

Over the next 18 months, Humana Cares’ new telehealth pilot will monitor 2,000 congestive heart failure patients across the country, McCallister said. Personalized monitoring allows nurses to coordinate member care with physicians who can adjust medications and treatment in response to measurements obtained by the Health Guide. Video monitoring allows the nurse to observe mood, facial expressions, breathing patterns, skin color and extremity swelling, all of which may indicate important changes in a member’s condition.

“The member and the nurse feel even more connected than they do telephonically,” said Kate Marcus, project manager for Humana Cares. “The nurse can see the member and can see if the member is short of breath, if there’s a change in their coloration and really have another level of interaction with that member.”

As an example, Marcus said, recently a member in the congestive heart failure program suddenly gained three pounds. It turned out she had stopped taking her diuretic medication, as she was unable to have her prescription filled. A Humana Cares nurse was able to resolve the issue and prevent the condition from getting worse, Marcus said.

The interactive system also is designed to engage patients in taking a more active role in managing their health.

A computer in the patient’s home allows for two-way video between caregiver and patient. It provides daily monitoring of vital signs and could help prevent more costly healthcare events, such as visits to the emergency room or hospitalizations.

Intel and GE have formed a new company – Intel-GE Care Innovations – to focus on technology like the Intel Health Guide.

As Doug Busch, chief operating officer of the new company, sees it, allowing people to age in their homes while interacting with their care providers is critical to controlling the cost of healthcare.

There are no firm numbers on cost savings, said Marcus, but the project is expected to result in fewer hospital re-admissions, shorter length of stay, fewer ER visits and significantly reduced medical claims expenses.

Humana Cares opened in St. Petersburg in February 2009 with about 200 associates when Humana, Florida’s largest Medicare health benefits company, expanded its commitment to implementing chronic condition management programs that incorporate a more holistic approach to managing care for the chronically ill. Today, Humana Cares employs more than 800 associates who provide integrated complex and chronic care management for about 123,000 Humana members across the country.