ForaCare, Inc. this week announced the launch of its FORA® GTel Multi-Functional Monitoring System with built-in cellular connectivity. The innovative product is expected to give patients, and the providers who care for them, a uniquely effective and efficient means of managing high-risk diabetes.

FORA GTel provides both blood glucose and blood ketone cellular monitoring and allows two-way messaging between patients and physicians. The cell-enabled technology offers an alternative to manual logbooks and downloading of patient results; it facilitates easy sharing of real-time data to keep those with diabetes and their care team informed and engaged. It also connects to FORA’s 24/7 HealthView telehealth service that is HIPAA-compliant and allows healthcare professionals to remotely monitor their patients’ health conditions.

ForaCare is a technology company dedicated to the design and development of products to support healthcare providers and patients alike in managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and COPD. Its proven-effective products are developed using advanced information technology, clinical applications and integrated chronic disease monitoring tools.

“We are incredibly excited about how the GTel will improve diabetes management. Its features go far beyond anything else available to providers and patients today—both clinically and practically,” said Michael Halter, Marketing Director at ForaCare, Inc.

“Anyone who has worked with us—from medical device distributors to health plans to diabetes educators and telehealth providers—knows that we are hyper-focused on one single goal: developing technologies that lead to better health outcomes,” he added. “GTel is an ideal addition to our family of products that do just that.”

FORA GTel stands out from the competition in that it monitors both blood glucose and blood ketone while others measure blood glucose alone. Some of its other unique features include:

• Touchscreen technology with different background colors to indicate Hi/Normal/Low range
• Encouraging reminders while awaiting results
• Service button that allows caregivers to see the requests and follow up with the patients
• Built-in trend analysis
• Talking capabilities (English/Spanish/French)
• Gold advance strip technology

For more information or to request a live demo, please click here.

ForaCare, Inc., a remote patient monitoring company known for its innovative healthcare technology in chronic care management, was recognized as one of the CIO Review’s 50 Most Promising Healthcare Solution Providers in 2019. The companies named “leverage emerging technologies to come up with practical solutions in healthcare,” according to the CIO Review.

“We are extremely honored to be included in the list of top healthcare solution providers,” stated Sophia Wu, Founder of ForaCare, Inc. “For over a decade, we have set the vision for developing state-of-the-art medical devices with telehealth capability and take great pride in our advancements in Remote Patient Monitoring and mHealth software solutions.

Our quality products have proven to help healthcare providers and patients more effectively and successfully manage chronic care while reducing healthcare costs. With the new emergence in remote patient monitoring reimbursement opportunities available for care providers and medical device connectivity options, ForaCare aims to make the process of adopting new patient care models more accessible.”

With the main goal of leading to better health outcomes, ForaCare provides a total care solution for patients who have chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, COPD, and CHF.

This is made possible as a remote patient monitoring company through FORA® products, which transmit measurements of blood glucose, blood pressure, blood ketone, SpO2, temperature or weight, directly to a telehealth system accessible to both the patient and the doctor.

One key feature of many FORA® remote patient monitoring devices is the talking function that will give audible results in a choice of up to three languages. ForaCare further sets itself apart from the competition because all manufactured devices have a small sample size, large LCD display, and connectivity options via Bluetooth, cellular or cable.

As a remote patient monitoring company, doctors or clinicians are able to remotely monitor their patients through the FORA 24/7 HealthView telehealth system and proactively take action in an effort to deliver the best care possible. Since data is uploaded in real-time, healthcare professionals can immediately receive alerts when individual patients need an intervention.

The proven benefits of remote patient monitoring include lower costs, fewer complications and better health outcomes.

As ForaCare continues toward its goal of better health outcomes, the research and development team constantly works to improve upon current technologies and develop new advancements that are designed and manufactured in-house. The gold-standard test strips, for example, are now even more accurate, and the new FORA® GTel Cellular Multi-Functional Blood Glucose and Blood Ketone Monitoring System contains all the latest technologies.

ForaCare, Inc. is a remote patient monitoring company dedicated to the design, development, and marketing of medical devices and software for chronic disease management. Our mission is to complete the cycle of chronic disease management by combining innovative technologies with accurate, and affordable medical devices.

The new iFORA Smart app is designed to make busy lives easier using advanced mobile technology, sleek interface design and detailed data management tools to assist in better chronic disease management.

Set a target range, evaluate your compliance rates, log notes with your readings, see patterns over time, and take action towards better health.

For Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Temperature, Weight, SpO2 and Blood Test (Ketone)

Key Features:

• Customizable: choose the parameters you are measuring
• Ability to input additional data such as nutrition, exercise, medication and insulin
• View measurements individually or in charts and graphs
• Flexible user interface
• See out of range data by color
• Customized settings for the user
• Easily share data with family or caregivers

Learn more here: iFORA mHealth Apps

NEW 2019 RPM CODES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REIMBURSEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR REMOTE MONITORING OF PATIENT HEALTH DATA

The 2019 Medicare fee schedule creates three new codes in the category of Chronic Care Remote Physiologic Monitoring.

• Code 99453: Remote monitoring of physiologic parameter(s) (eg, weight, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, and blood glucose), initial; set-up and patient education on use of equipment
• Code 99454: Remote monitoring of physiologic parameter(s) (eg, weight, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, blood glucose), initial; device(s) supply with daily recording(s) or programmed alert(s) transmission, each 30 days
• Code 99457: Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, 20 minutes or more of clinical staff/physician/other qualified healthcare professional time in a calendar month requiring interactive communication with the patient/caregiver during the month

ForaCare’s 24/7 HealthView telehealth monitoring program gives patients living with diabetes, hypertension, COPD and other chronic disease states the ability to manage their condition from home and automatically send data to their health care professional.

Our FDA cleared devices include blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeter for oxygen analysis, scale, glucose meters and thermometers. 

ForaCare’s connectivity solutions allow patients to easily upload their measurement data to the cloud via Bluetooth, Cellular 3G, or Cable connections.  All of which can be applied to multiple scenarios and allow for coverage regardless of the patient’s geographic location.  

Our products, apps, and software can interact with our own 24/7 HealthView Cloud, existing telehealth programs, or directly with your own platform.

The FORA® 24/7 HealthView Program includes:

• Telehealth Software – Cloud-Based, HIPAA compliant software system
• Devices – Manufacturer of FDA cleared devices for vitals, such as glucose, BP, weight, O2, temperature
• Data Communication- Choice of Gateway Hub or Smartphone connection to the Cloud

Goals and Accomplishments

• Reduce Readmissions and ER Visits
• Reduce, prevent, and manage chronic conditions
• Decrease Overall Costs and readmission Penalties
• Improve Medication Compliance

Contact us today for a free live demo. Click here to get started.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. (January 23, 2019) — ForaCare, Inc., the new leader in medical device technology and web-based telehealth solutions, has been working with Fair Oaks Health Center, a satellite clinic of San Mateo Medical Center, to better monitor their diabetes patients using FORA® blood glucose devices with bluetooth technology. 

The FORA Premium v10 BLE blood glucose meter with built in bluetooth technology was introduced to the clinic last year. The hope was that the technology could help caregivers monitor patient status and improve care. The meter uploads data to the cloud-based FORA® 24/7 HealthView server via iFORA smartphone app allowing care providers the ability to access patient data and make necessary adjustments that may prevent hospitalization.

“A significant portion of our patients don’t have access to or do not know how to use smartphones,” said Mary Grace Jue Leong, a diabetes educator at Fair Oaks. “We found a solution by applying to the County for tablets for the clinic. When patients without a smartphone come into the clinic with a meter, we help them use the tablets to access the data and upload it. The process is pretty simple and allows us better management their diabetes care plan.”

“We understand that every clinic has different needs, and we were happy to work with Fair Oaks to find a solution that works for them,” says Mike Tickle, ForaCare’s VP Business Development of Managed Care & Health Plans. “We personally sent reps to Fair Oaks to train them on how to use the app and meter, set up the iPads, and provided educational materials and assistance. We want to make sure integration is as easy as possible.”

For more information or to request a demo click here or call 1-888-307-8188.

How to use a home blood pressure monitor

Know your numbers.

• Be still. Don’t smoke, drink caffeinated beverages or exercise within 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Empty your bladder and ensure at least 5 minutes of quiet rest before measurements. 
• Sit correctly. Sit with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, rather than a sofa). Your feet should be flat on the floor and your legs should not be crossed. Your arm should be supported on a flat surface (such as a table) with the upper arm at heart level. Make sure the bottom of the cuff is placed directly above the bend of the elbow. Check your monitor’s instructions for an illustration or have your healthcare provider show you how.
• Measure at the same time every day. It’s important to take the readings at the same time each day, such as morning and evening. It is best to take the readings daily however ideally beginning 2 weeks after a change in treatment and during the week before your next appointment.
• Take multiple readings and record the results. Each time you measure, take two or three readings one minute apart and record the results using a printable (PDF) or online tracker. Many FORA® monitors have built-in memory to store your readings, take it with you to your appointments. Some FORA® monitors may also allow you to upload your readings to a secure website after you register your profile.
• Don’t take the measurement over clothes.

Learn what the numbers in your blood pressure reading mean.

Note: A diagnosis of high blood pressure must be confirmed with a medical professional. A doctor should also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure readings.

If you get a high blood pressure reading

• A single high reading is not an immediate cause for alarm. If you get a reading that is slightly or moderately higher than normal, take your blood pressure a few more times and consult your healthcare professional to verify if there’ s a health concern or whether there may be any issues with your monitor.
• If your blood pressure readings suddenly exceed 180/120 mm Hg, wait five minutes and test again. If your readings are still unusually high, contact your doctor immediately. You could be experiencing a hypertensive crisis.
• If your blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mm Hg and you are experiencing signs of possible organ damage such as chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, change in vision, difficulty speaking, do not wait to see if your pressure comes down on its own. Call 9-1-1.

AHA Recommendation

The American Heart Association recommends home monitoring for all people with high blood pressure to help the healthcare provider determine whether treatments are working. Home monitoring (self-measured blood pressure) is not a substitute for regular visits to your physician. If you have been prescribed medication to lower your blood pressure, don’t stop taking your medication without consulting your doctor, even if your blood pressure readings are in the normal range during home monitoring.

Home blood pressure monitoring may be especially useful for:

• Anyone diagnosed with high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension).
• Individuals starting high blood pressure treatment to determine its effectiveness.
• People requiring closer monitoring, especially individuals with risk factors for high blood pressure and/or conditions  related to high blood pressure. 
• Pregnant women, experiencing pregnancy-induced hypertension and/or preeclampsia. 
• Evaluating potentially false readings, like:
  • People who only have high readings at the doctor’ s office (“white coat” hypertension). 
  • People who only have high readings at home but not at the doctor’ s office (“masked” hypertension).
• NOTE: People with atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias may not be good candidates for home monitoring because electronic home blood pressure devices may not be able to give accurate measurements. Ask your doctor to recommend a monitoring method that works for you.

Left-arm vs. right-arm blood pressure

Several studies have been done to determine what is a normal variation between right and left arm. In general, any difference of 10 mm Hg or less is considered normal and is not a cause for concern.

Why keep a blood pressure journal?

One blood pressure measurement is like a snapshot. It only tells what your blood pressure is at that moment. A record of readings taken over time provides a “time-lapse” picture of your blood pressure that can help you partner with your physician to ensure that your treatments  to lower high blood pressure  (HBP or hypertension) are working.

For more information and to see a complete list of FORA Blood Pressure monitors, Click Here.

Our Story

Based in Moorpark, California, ForaCare Inc. US is a technology company dedicated to the design and development of products for chronic disease management. The aim of ForaCare Inc. is to complete the cycle of chronic disease management by combining innovative technologies and clinical applications. We embrace modern technologies to focus on diabetes, hypertension, and COPD management among other disease states. By utilizing the advanced information technology and integrated chronic disease monitoring, we have established an efficient and effective healthcare management platform to serve professionals and patients.

Our Technologies

ForaCare products provide a reliable and accurate means to collect chronic disease monitoring information, and information technology platforms for effective data management. ForaCare products and solutions are designed and developed to cover multiple parameters, including diabetes, hypertension, CHF and COPD care, as well as TeleHealth solutions. Through our monitoring and systems technology we turn biometric data into useful and accessible health information. Healthcare professionals can use this information to proactively take action and manage patient compliance through prescription of behavior modifications.