2016 Continua Design Guidelines Include New Features For Simple Connectivity Of Personal Connected Health Devices

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHA) announced today the release of its 2016 Continua Design Guidelines, including the addition of important new features for consumers, developers and healthcare providers. This latest release features new guidelines for an insulin pump, continuous glucose monitor and pulse oximeter, making the Continua Design Guidelines the only complete solution for connected diabetes management.

New features of the 2016 Continua Design Guidelines include:

• simplified access to device data
• new services that improve the user experience
• an improved framework for remote management
• clarifications of terminology to aid in implementation

"We are especially pleased to announce the completion of our diabetes suite of guidelines, making Continua the only advanced, interoperable solution for individuals to effectively manage their diabetes using health technologies," said Patricia Mechael, PhD, Executive Vice President, PCHA. "Publishing and promoting adoption of the Continua Design Guidelines is an important step toward our mission of empowering consumers to take charge of their health and wellness and better communicate with their health providers, caregivers and social networks through the use of wearables, trackers and apps."

2016 marks the ten-year anniversary of the Continua Design Guidelines, which are recognized as an international standard for personal health systems through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the standards-setting body within the United Nations. Published annually by PCHA and available to the public free of charge, the Design Guidelines define an open, flexible framework for simple, end-to-end connectivity (interoperability) of personal connected health devices and systems, enabling the convenient exchange of health data for improved health, wellness and disease management.

"With the additions and enhancements to the 2016 Design Guidelines, we anticipate an improved plug-and-play experience for consumers using Continua certified devices, reduced costs for healthcare providers and developers through the facilitation of new services and, importantly, broader availability of Continua certified products in the marketplace," said Horst Merkle, President and Chairman of Continua; and Director, Information Management Systems, Diabetes Care, Roche Diagnostics. "We are grateful for the dedication of our working groups sponsored by our member companies in meticulously preparing and testing the 2016 Guidelines."

The Continua Design Guidelines are built on the principles of authentic interoperability, open development, flexibility and market consensus to facilitate anytime, anywhere health and wellness. Standards underlying the Continua Design Guidelines include the IEEE 11063 Personal Health Devices family of standards; Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) PCD-01 standards, and HL7 Personal Health Monitoring Report. By certifying products to the Continua Design Guidelines, companies opt in to the personal connected health economy and demonstrate their commitment to customers.

Certification to the 2016 CDGs will become available by the end of 2016 for both the devices and services interfaces.

The Personal Connected Health Alliance (PCHA) works collaboratively with health, technology and life sciences, public policy, research and advocacy groups to support a new norm of personal health engagement, positive behavior change and improved wellbeing and health outcomes. PCHA is focused on driving the agenda, creating an evidence base and mobilizing collective action to achieve personal connected health for all. PCHA hosts the annual Connected Health Conference, an international forum and expo for networking and showcasing advancements in research, innovations and opportunities in personal connected health. PCHA is a division of HIMSS and home to Continua, which publishes the annual Continua Design Guidelines. Continua is recognized as the international standard for user friendly end-to-end interoperability of personal connected health devices and systems.

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SOURCE Personal Connected Health Alliance

Related Links

http://www.pchalliance.org