Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) October 20, 2009 – 3tailer, a niche online retailer, has partnered with Entra Health Systems, an international healthcare technology company, on a branded eCommerce store for the world’s first FDA cleared Bluetooth® enabled blood glucose meter for diabetics available at MyGlucoMeter.com. The revolutionary MyGlucoHealth Meter is enabled with Bluetooth®, allowing the user to automatically upload daily glucose readings, view customizable graphs with trends, and manage their diabetes care from one online portal which can be shared with anyone including health care professionals and family members. Medicare and private insurers have approved the glucometer for reimbursement (if you’re unsure if you qualify, please contact your insurer before purchasing).

The MyGlucoHealth meter processes results in just three seconds while also using the smallest blood testing size currently available (only .3 milliliters). With automatic coding of the test strips, an easy strip ejector, and alternate testing sites, the MyGlucoHealth Meter is the most technically advanced glucose meter on the market today. The MyGlucoHealth meter also meets higher performance standards when compared to many off-the-shelf glucometers. In glucose concentrations of less than 75 mg/dl, MyGlucoHealth tested within plus or minus 6.5% of laboratory calibration, 89% of the time and within 7.5%, 100% of the time. When testing concentrations of greater than 75 mg/dl, MyGlucoHealth was within 5%, 65% of the time, within 10%, 92% of the time and within 15%, 98% of the time.

Co-Founder of 3tailer, Jon West, said “We’re excited about how the MyGlucoHealth Meter is going to make diabetes management so much easier. The launch of MyGlucoMeter.com also marks a milestone for our company and we’re thrilled about this opportunity.” “The MyGlucoHealth Network offers financial benefits to patients, clinicians and payers,” said John Hendel, chairman of Entra Health Systems. “Recent studies demonstrate that diabetics who test regularly cost significantly less to care for than patients than who test infrequently. Those that test infrequently can cost up to 10 times more to care for due to complications, emergency room visits, and hospitalization that many times could be avoided.”

With the launch of MyGlucoMeter.com, MyGlucoHealth meters are readily available to diabetics wishing to simplify their diabetes management routine using the latest technologies. The simple-to-use store features in-depth product information, blog posts with RSS feeds, and easy ways to contact product specialists. MyGlucoMeter.com allows individuals to easily order and re-order their glucometer and test strips from the comfort of their home and eliminates unnecessary trips to the store. Customers will love the easy to use website and 3tailer’s dedication to improving the customer experience will ensure that MyGlucoMeter.com remains one step ahead of the competition. “The partnership we’ve created with Entra Health Systems allows them to reach the growing demographic of online diabetics effectively and quickly gain market share.” added Chad Ledford, Co-Founder of 3tailer.

Simply put, the MyGlucoHealth meter is the most technically advanced glucose meter on the market and is is made available by 3tailer at www.MyGlucoMeter.com. Be sure to follow MyGlucoMeter on Twitter at twitter.com/myglucometer for special coupons and more information.

About 3tailer
Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, 3tailer is the parent company of a variety of niche eCommerce shops. Since 2005, exclusive partnerships with various distributors and brands has allowed 3tailer to create unique niche websites featuring anything from diabetic socks to Halloween costumes. With 100’s of thousands of products to choose from on over 30 websites, 3tailer offers customers an exceptional shopping experience with an emphasis on customer satisfaction. By partnering with 3tailer, brands have seen exponential online growth as well as assurance that their brand is well represented. Contact 3tailer to learn more about how your brand can benefit from a relationship with a growing niche online retailer.

About Entra Health Systems
Entra Health Systems is an international applied technology company that is dedicated to developing new technologies to advance healthcare management. Entra Health Systems offers products and services that improves patient care and reduces cost of care. With the MyGlucoHealth meter, Entra Health Systems revolutionizes diabetes management solutions for both patients and physicians. Recognizing that the relationship between physician and patient is unique, Entra Health Systems provides technology that reduces the burden on healthcare providers and simplifies care for the patient. Improving patient care standards begins by placing more control in the hands of the patient. Improved patient care leads to improved outcomes and lower cost of care.

About MyGlucoHealth Network
MyGlucoHealth is a network of services surrounding the company’s MyGlucoHealth meter, the first FDA cleared Bluetooth®-enabled blood glucose meter. The meter offers simple, wireless transmission of test results to a patient’s secure electronic journal. The MyGlucoHealth Patient Analytics Portal provides patients, clinicians and caregivers with instant access to patient data through the mobile phone or the web.

Contact 3tailer:
Brittany Wallington
eCommerce Relations Manager
(800) 251-3638
http://www.3tailer.com
http://www.myglucometer.com

Contact Entra Health Systems:
Bruce Ahern
Media Relations
(877) 458-2646
http://www.entrahealthsystems.com
http://www.myglucohealth.net

# # #

San Diego, California – November 20, 2008 — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company today announced the receipt of CE Mark Certification for the MyGlucoHealth® Meter. The new meter is the most technically advanced diabetic patient care product on the market today. It features a fully integrated Bluetooth®-enabled test upload system, rapid testing results, which are available in 3 seconds, the smallest blood sample size (.3μL) of any meter and automatic coding of test strips.

“CE certification confirms that the MyGlucoHealth Meter meets all the CE Mark requirements, which involve rigorous testing to European and International standards for product safety, compatibility and performance,” said Richard C. Strobridge, Chief Executive Officer of Entra Health Systems. “The company will begin shipment of the new meters to Europe by the end of the month to meet growing demand.”

The MyGlucoHealth Meter officially received CE Certification in Europe on November 20, 2008. The device registration number in Europe is 21.34.02.1078. CE is the European conformity marking that indicates that the product complies with all relevant European requirements, and that it has been evaluated according to applicable certification procedures.

The CE marking (an acronym for the French “Conformite Europeenne”) certifies that a product has met EU health, safety, and environmental requirements, which ensure consumer safety. Manufacturers in the European Union (EU) and abroad must meet CE marking requirements where applicable in order to market their products in Europe. A manufacturer, who has gone through the conformity assessment process, may affix the CE marking to the product.

April 14, 2009 - San Diego, California — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company announces the official U.S. launch of the first FDA cleared and CE certified Bluetooth® blood glucose meter. The MyGlucoHealth meter, along with the MyGlucoHealth Network form an integrated telemedicine platform supporting patients and healthcare professionals in the control and treatment of diabetes.

The MyGlucoHealth meter works in combination with a real-time online data collection network to upload and manage blood glucose readings using a mobile phone or PC computer. This eliminates the need for patients to maintain personal logbooks, thus improving data accuracy and removing the opportunity for incomplete or ‘manufactured’ readings. The Bluetooth communication built-in to every meter instantly connects patients to a network of information and resources. Using the MyGlucoHealth Patient Analytics Portal at www.myglucohealth.net, or regional sites throughout the world, patients securely transmit and evaluate their daily readings while communicating those same results to their families, caregiver or diabetic care specialist. Direct, real-time data helps clarify and define treatment strategies and improve overall patient care.

“MyGlucoHealth is more than just an advanced meter, with rapid results,” said Richard Strobridge, Chief Executive Officer of Entra Health Systems. “MyGlucoHealth is a comprehensive diabetes management tool that gives patients more direct control over their care and provides clear lines of communication with clinicians and caregivers. MyGlucoHealth monitors a patient’s day-to-day condition, while informing and motivating patients to follow a routine that leads to a healthier lifestyle. With testing results available in just 3 seconds, the smallest blood sample size of 0.3 microliters and automatic coding of test strips, there is no question the MyGlucoHealth meter is the most technically advanced diabetic patient care product on the market today.”

“MyGlucoHealth offers significant financial benefits to patients, clinicians as well as medical insurance providers,” said John Hendel, chairman of Entra Health Systems. “Studies demonstrate that diabetics who test regularly cost significantly less to care for than those who don’t test as required. Patients that test infrequently can cost up to 10 times more to care for, due to complications, emergency room visits, and hospitalization that can often be avoided.”

The MyGlucoHealth Network is engineered to provide tools for diabetics to better care for themselves. The key to MyGlucoHealth is technology that quietly monitors not just the testing results of patients, but also the patterns of their testing. Using this information and automated tools, the MyGlucoHealth Network can set up reminders to encourage patients to test more frequently, as well as to notify the patient’s family and caregivers when testing results exceed thresholds or fluctuate.

April 27, 2009 – Las Vegas, Nevada — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company today demonstrated the MyGlucoHealth integrated wireless telehealth platform at the American Telemedicine Association Conference in Las Vegas. MyGlucoHealth is the first FDA cleared and CE certified Bluetooth®-enabled blood glucose meter of its kind in the world. The Bluetooth communication built-in to every MyGlucoHealth meter securely connects patients to a real-time online network to upload and evaluate their blood sugar readings using a mobile phone or PC.

“MyGlucoHealth is an integrated wireless telehealth solution that helps patients gain direct control over their care, while providing clear lines of communication between their clinicians and caregivers,” said Richard Strobridge, Chief Executive Officer of Entra Health Systems. “The MyGlucoHealth alerting system allows patients to automatically notify family, caregivers or diabetic care specialists by email or SMS text message about their changing condition or to remind them to test. MyGlucoHealth provides greater data transparency for both the patient and the clinician to help clarify and define treatment strategies and improve overall patient care.”

Using the secure Physician’s Portal, clinicians have access to a detailed dashboard of patient testing data that is updated each time the user uploads. The clinician can establish individual or global alert settings to flag patient records when blood test readings, testing frequency or target averages fall outside of defined levels. Underlying test data is immediately available to the clinician for review in detail. The messaging feature of the Physician’s Portal enables patients and clinicians to securely send and receive communications back and forth about patient condition, testing results and medication options.

About MyGlucoHealth®

MyGlucoHealth is the first FDA cleared and CE certified Bluetooth® blood glucose meter. The MyGlucoHealth meter works in combination with a real-time online network to upload and manage blood sugar readings using a mobile phone or PC. MyGlucoHealth eliminates the need for patients to maintain personal logbooks, improving data accuracy and removing the opportunity for incomplete or ‘manufactured’ readings.

Using the MyGlucoHealth Portal at www.myglucohealth.net, or regional sites throughout the world, patients securely transmit and evaluate their daily readings while communicating those same results to their families, caregiver or physician. MyGlucoHealth monitors a patient’s day-to-day condition, while continually informing and motivating patients to follow a routine that leads to a healthier lifestyle. For more information or online ordering visit: www.myglucohealth.net.

May 13, 2009 - San Diego, California — While debate continues within healthcare over the allocation of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Entra Health Systems offers an immediately available solution with MyGlucoHealth that not only can save money in the treatment of diabetic patients, it also provides patients with tools to improve their personal condition. MyGlucoHealth is an integrated telehealth platform supporting patients and healthcare professionals in the monitoring and treatment of diabetes. The MyGlucoHealth meter connects wirelessly to a mobile phone using Bluetooth® technology to manage blood glucose testing information and communicate results to the MyGlucoHealth online Portal. MyGlucoHealth is the first FDA cleared and CE certified device of its kind in the world.

“MyGlucoHealth is engineered to increase direct doctor/patient communication, as well as promote regular testing by diabetic patients,” said Richard Strobridge, Chief Executive Officer of Entra Health Systems. “With $174 billion having been spent in the U.S. on the treatment of diabetes in 2007, according to the American Diabetes Association, even a small savings through improved testing practices will have a significant financial impact. MyGlucoHealth represents an uncomplicated solution using a mobile phone that provides real-time data directly to the patient, their clinician or caregiver, while at the same time giving them a system to automatically send alerts about their changing condition or to remind them to test.”

“Studies have proven that a diabetic patient who tests regularly and effectively uses that information, will be significantly healthier and cost less to treat than a patient who tests infrequently or ignores input from testing,” added Strobridge. “Most experts agree that patients with irregular testing patterns cost as much as 10 times more to care for, due to complications and related emergency room visits. Diabetic complications can be extremely expensive to treat, but many could be avoided, if the patient better monitors their condition and manages their diet and exercise.”

Integration with Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems

The integration of MyGlucoHealth data within a patient’s EHR will help to streamline clinical workflow, leading to improved patient care, as well as reduced treatment costs. By accessing blood glucose records and other related patient information and medical histories in real-time using a mobile phone or PC, physicians and critical care personnel will have instant access to accurate information to better care for the patient.

Demographic data, blood test and other coordinated information about the patient from the MyGlucoHealth online database can readily be shared with any HL7-based Electronic Health Record system or as a continuity of care record using the ASTM standard for personal health records. For the patient with diabetes, integrating real-time testing data within their EHR will provide greater transparency for both the patient and the clinician, as well as a long-term history of patient readings to benchmark.

May 19, 2009 - San Diego, California & Sydney, Australia — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company received final approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), for their MyGlucoHealth diabetic care solution. TGA is Australia's regulatory agency, the counterpart of the U.S. FDA. Receipt of TGA approval ensures that MyGlucoHealth meets Australian standards of quality, safety, and efficacy.

The company also announced this week the establishment of Entra Health Systems Pty Ltd to manage regional sales, marketing, as well as customer support of MyGlucoHealth products. With headquarters in Sydney, New South Wales, Entra Health Systems Pty Ltd will manage the roll out of the MyGlucoHealth meter, the world’s first integrated FDA cleared and CE certified Bluetooth®-enabled blood glucose meter in Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia Pacific.

“Our goal is to play a leadership role to make MyGlucoHealth the standard of diabetic care in Australia and the Asia Pacific,” said Richard Strobridge, Chief Executive Officer of Entra Health Systems. “We are already building a customer base within the region, having a local presence is crucial to maintaining localized distribution and world-class customer care. Our new Australian subsidiary will directly manage all of those operations.”

“We also want to acknowledge the extensive support we received from the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) and the Department of State and Regional Development for New South Wales which streamlined the process of establishing our local presence,” Strobridge added.

June 17, 2009 - San Diego, California — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company today announced a program to offer free diabetic testing meters to clinics, community health organizations and rural health groups serving the Hispanic, Native American and other underserved diabetic populations in the United States. Entra Health will provide MyGlucoHealth meter kits to support clinical testing programs and grant-funded studies to investigate the effectiveness of online data tools to improve the care of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics and reduce the overall cost of treatment.

Entra Health will support any approved study by providing the USB-version of the MyGlucoHealth blood glucose meter along with free access to online patient upload accounts, access to the Physician’s Portal for clinician monitoring as well as technical support. The clinic will be responsible for patient support and other supplies and reporting related to the study. Test strips for the MyGlucoHealth meter will be supplied directly to the clinic at reduced rates and may be reimbursable under state or federal health plans. The USB version of the MyGlucoHealth meter connects to the Internet using a personal computer to manage testing information and communicate results to the MyGlucoHealth Portal.

Acceptable criteria for a clinical study includes patient populations as described above with between fifty and one thousand participants. The study should examine among other things, the benefits and results of using an integrated data capture system for blood glucose monitoring to report testing levels via a secure web portal. Study endpoints should include HbA1C reduction through improved monitoring and increased testing compliance.

Patients will have the ability to upload results using their own personal computer or bring their meter into a clinic to upload data. The MyGlucoHealth Portal will be available for access by the patient’s diabetes care team, family members and others as authorized by the patient. Test results from the meter are automatically time and date stamped and cannot be modified by the patient.

“MyGlucoHealth is designed to increase direct doctor/patient communication, as well as promote regular testing by diabetic patients,” said John Hendel, Chairman of Entra Health Systems. “The MyGlucoHealth meter eliminates the need for patients to maintain a written log book, this is especially important among populations where literacy or language is an issue. Within underserved patient populations, we believe MyGlucoHealth will significantly improve treatment and reduce the cost of care through improved monitoring by the clinician and care team.”

Clinicians can log into the Physicians’ Portal on the MyGlucoHealth web site to view a full patient dashboard, evaluate data and examine graphs. Access to the Portal can be granted to multiple clinicians to view a specific population of patient data. The targets and alerts section of the Portal allows the clinician to establish individual or group high/low ‘threshold’ settings for blood glucose levels and then communicate any significant changes to anyone they designate. For the patient alerts can be customized to include trend warnings, low testing frequency, and other parameters keys to improving care. In addition, a unique feedback mechanism employs SMS text messages and emails directly to the patient or their family to encourage testing compliance and provides other motivational information.

Physicians, clinics or health agencies interested in conducting a study using the MyGlucoHealth meter should contact the Director of Clinical Affairs at Entra Health Systems by calling 877-458-2646 (877-GLUCO-4-ME) Extension 703.

July 15, 2009 - San Diego, California — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company today unveiled the new MyGlucoHealth Clinical Point-of-Care System, a clinic-based diabetic testing solution for hospitals, clinics and other inpatient care environments. Clinical Point-of-Care is a hardware agnostic web-based interface that works with the MyGlucoHealth meter to allow blood glucose tests and data uploads using virtually any Bluetooth® or USB enabled tablet computer, PC or compatible PDA device.

“The Clinical Point-of-Care solution is designed to reduce information delays and improve accuracy though real-time, patient-direct documentation,” said Larry Mahar, Chief Technology Officer of Entra Health Systems. “MyGlucoHealth optimizes the clinical workflow by providing better, more accurate data to improve decision-making and collaboration, while decreasing the chance of transcription errors. This one step can reduce data documentation latency from hours to minutes. For clinical staff, it increases productivity and assists in better adherence to patient care protocols.”

Using the MyGlucoHealth meter in “point-of-care” mode, a clinician can test multiple patients using a single meter. Readings can be separately uploaded and posted using built-in Bluetooth or USB to the MyGlucoHealth Physicians’ Portal or hospital EMR. On the Portal, readings for each patient are individually logged and color-coded based on patient criteria. Clinicians can log into the Portal independently to view a full patient dashboard, evaluate graphs, as well as set monitoring targets and alerts. The Portal will notify the clinician directly or alert the patient, family or caregivers if readings exceed thresholds. Permission to access Clinical Point-of-Care data can be granted to multiple clinicians to view a defined population of patient data.

About MyGlucoHealth®

MyGlucoHealth is the first FDA cleared and CE certified Bluetooth blood glucose meter. The meter, along with the MyGlucoHealth Network form an integrated telehealth platform supporting patients and healthcare professionals in the control and treatment of diabetes. MyGlucoHealth gives patients more direct control over their care and provides clear lines of communication with clinicians and caregivers.

The MyGlucoHealth meter works in combination with a real-time online data collection network to upload and manage blood glucose readings using a mobile phone or PC. This eliminates the need for patients to maintain personal logbooks, improving data accuracy and removing the opportunity for incomplete or ‘manufactured’ readings. Using the MyGlucoHealth Portal at www.myglucohealth.net, or regional sites throughout the world, patients securely transmit and evaluate their daily readings while communicating those same results to their families, caregiver or diabetic care specialist.

July 22, 2009 - San Diego, California — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company unveiled its new Patient Messaging and Alerts system built into the web technology that supports the MyGlucoHealth glu- cometer. Messaging and Alerts allows patients to automatically send notifications about their changing condition or reminders to tell them when to test. Individual notices can be sent by SMS text message or email.

“This unique feature helps engage persons with diabetes in their own individual care as well as forms a partnership with family members to help the patient better monitor their health and manage their disease,” said Richard Strobridge, Chief Executive Officer of Entra Health Systems. “The targets and alerts section of the MyGlucoHealth Portal allows the patient to establish critical ‘threshold’ settings for blood glucose levels and then communicate significant changes to anyone they designate. The system monitors upload results and automatically sends notifications to the patient, their physician, family member, or caregiver whenever a threshold is exceeded.”

By managing their individual online profile, each patient can establish high and low thresholds based on personal goals and health condition. The menu allows the patient to designate phone numbers for mobile phone text messages, as well as email addresses for recipients of alerts. In addition, there is a ‘reminders’ messaging feature on the MyGlucoHealth portal that allows the patient to set up a series of notifications to help them maintain a consistent level of testing, posting or a supply of strips. Reminders can be set up at 15-minute intervals throughout the day to alert the patient to test, upload their stored testing results or to order additional test strips when their supply is low. The website keeps count of strip usage and integrates with MyGlucoStore.com to notify the patient when it’s time to order additional strips.

July 29, 2009 - San Diego, California — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company today released an enhanced version of the MyGlucoHealth Mobile Application. The Mobile Application permits blood glucose testing results stored on the MyGlucoHealth meter to be wirelessly transmitted using Bluetooth® technology by mobile phone to the web for posting.

“There are two key components to the new MyGlucoHealth Mobile Application,” said Larry Mahar, Chief Technology Officer of Entra Health Systems. “The first is a Java application that enables Bluetooth-compatible phones to directly communicate with the MyGlucoHealth Meter to upload readings. The second is a browser application that allows patients to view an abbreviated version of the MyGlucoHealth Portal directly on their phone. Together, they provide an integrated handheld resource with direct, real-time data to help clarify and define treatment strategies and improve overall patient care.”

Using the MyGlucoHealth Mobile Application, patients can log-in to a mobile web browser to review their most recent test results, view line charts, pie charts and histograms, as well as enter weight, exercise and nutritional data. The Mobile Application also allows patients to send and receive secure messages to and from their clinician. In addition, users can order replacement MyGlucoHealth test strips directly through MyGlucoStore.com. Updated versions of the application can be downloaded by existing users from www.myglucohealth.net, using a compatible mobile phone.

An upcoming version of the MyGlucoHealth Mobile application will feature a unique “Text to Speech” tool to allow visually impaired patients or family members to review and evaluate test results based on audio responses from their mobile phone. Release of the new Text to Speech feature is scheduled for release in the fourth Quarter 2009.

August 6, 2009 – San Diego — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company today demonstrated how the MyGlucoHealth chronic disease management platform could be effective in the monitoring and treatment of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is one of the most common healthcare complications during pregnancy. It affects nearly 8% of expectant mothers in the U.S. and is significantly higher among some ethnic populations worldwide. For gestational diabetes management, the MyGlucoHealth Bluetooth®-enabled blood glucose meter works as part of an automated diabetic care solution that can be used by obstetricians to more closely monitor and manage the disease as a part of prenatal treatment.

For the expectant mother, Bluetooth communication built-in to every MyGlucoHealth meter securely connects them to a real-time online network to upload, evaluate and share their blood sugar readings using a mobile phone or PC. In addition to directly charting test readings, the MyGlucoHealth Patient Portal helps the mother monitor critical factors during pregnancy like weight gain, blood pressure, and medication. Using the MyGlucoHealth Mobile Application on a cell phone, patients have access to a mobile web browser to review test results, view charts, as well as enter weight, exercise and nutritional information.

“MyGlucoHealth enables the treating obstetrician or clinic to remotely monitor daily blood glucose readings, as well as direct the care of the patient,” said John Hendel, Chairman of Entra Health Systems. “The period of treatment for a gestational diabetic patient is relatively short, but during that time there is significant risk for a number of complications to both the expectant mother and the unborn child. MyGlucoHealth offers a suite of diabetic management tools that directly connect the patient with their physician throughout the term of the pregnancy. This enables the mother and the obstetrician to work in concert to provide better prenatal care.”

For the obstetrician, the secure MyGlucoHealth Physicians’ Portal provides access to a dashboard of all of their patients’ testing data. Readings for each patient are logged and color-coded, based on individual criteria, while underlying test data is available to evaluate in detail. MyGlucoHealth’s online resources eliminate the need for patient logbooks, supplying the physician with more accurate, real-time information.

On the Physicians’ Portal, the doctor can establish individual or global monitoring targets and alert settings for patients to flag records when test readings, testing frequency or averages fall outside of prescribed levels. The Portal will notify the obstetrician directly or alert the patient, or a family member if readings exceed thresholds. The secure messaging features of the Portal enables patients and clinicians to send and receive communications back and forth about patient condition, testing results or medication options.

August 27, 2009 - San Diego, California — Entra Health Systems, an international applied healthcare technology company today unveiled an enhanced version of the MyGlucoHealth Patient Portal for diabetic monitoring. The Patient Portal is an extensive communication and data management web site that provides an easy-to-use interface for automatic collection and evaluation of test results from the MyGlucoHealth blood glucose meter. On the Portal, readings are interpreted and charted in a variety of ways to analyze, evaluate and visually present patient data.

Test information from the MyGlucoHealth meter is wirelessly transmitted to each patient’s individual, secure web page on the Patient Portal using a Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phone or PC. This completely eliminates the need to manually log test results, improving data accuracy and removing the opportunity for ‘manufactured’ entries.

“The Patient Portal is engineered to help persons with diabetes take ownership of their disease management, so they can make better lifestyle choices,” said Larry Mahar, Chief Technology Officer of Entra Health Systems. “We are constantly improving and expanding our web technology to provide more comprehensive tools for our patients. We added features like blood pressure recording, since hypertension is an important risk factor for the development and worsening of many of the complications of diabetes. Dozens of additional upgrades and enhancements have been made in response to user feedback and growing requirements from patients around the world.”

New sections of the Portal allow patients to record a number of personal statistics that are critical to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. New information logs manage patient supplied data on blood pressure, weight, nutrition, exercise and medication. In addition, the Portal features a new scatter plot that charts blood sugar readings by time of day and a new timeline that displays all blood tests for a selected time period.

An enhanced patient logbook makes viewing test results easier. The new version includes color-coding to point out values that exceeded alert thresholds. The ‘Export and Print’ functions now offers the ability to export data directly into a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. The ‘My Doctors’ section of the site was made more user-friendly. My Doctors allows patients to identify participating clinicians and grant permission for the doctor to view their results online. In addition to direct postings of blood glucose readings, a public area of the Patient Portal features an expanding collection of in-depth diabetes treatment and lifestyle resources.

August 21, 2009 – San Diego — Entra Health Systems, an international applied health care technology company today addressed a recent issue within the healthcare community over the accuracy of self-monitoring blood glucose devices (SMBG). Several groups in health care have voiced concerns that the prevailing international accuracy standard for SMBG’s of plus or minus 20% is insufficient to ensure the safety of diabetic patients using these devices to monitor their blood sugar levels. Richard C. Strobridge, CEO of Entra Health directly addressed these issues as they relate to the recently introduced MyGlucoHealth meter and integrated online telehealth technology.

“We are concerned about the extremely variable nature of glucometers and testing strips that are on the market today,” said Strobridge. “Patient health and safety are of utmost importance to us. By design, the MyGlucoHealth meter and strip system offers high levels of accuracy, with a smaller blood sample size, and faster reading. When tested against calibrated laboratory instruments, the MyGlucoHealth meter meets higher performance standards when compared to many off-the-shelf glucometers. In glucose concentrations of less than 75 mg/dl, MyGlucoHealth tested within plus or minus 6.5% of laboratory calibration, 89% of the time and within 7.5%, 100% of the time. When testing concentrations of greater than 75 mg/dl, MyGlucoHealth was within 5%, 65% of the time, within 10%, 92% of the time and within 15%, 98% of the time.”

“MyGlucoHealth is based on a highly accurate technology using test strips that employ a new biosensor composed of electrochemical components that requires only an extremely small volume of blood (.3µL) to achieve a precise measurement,” Strobridge added. “In addition, our meters are plasma calibrated to allow easy comparison of results with laboratory methods. By integrating a highly accurate glucometer with direct Bluetooth® communication, MyGlucoHealth offers patients an alternative that provides real-time information to more directly control individual patient care, as well as provide clear lines of communication with clinicians and caregivers.”

MyGlucoHealth has never employed glucose dehydrogenase pyrroloquinoline quinone (GDH-PQQ) glucose monitoring technology in its test strips. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Advice for Diabetic Patients on August 13, 2009, stating that blood glucose meters that use GDH-PQQ technology may "produce a falsely high (elevated) blood glucose result.

As a diabetic, self-monitoring of your blood glucose is an essential practice that must be handled with care. Making sure that your blood glucose remains at a healthy level starts with proper monitoring. Using a blood glucose monitoring device requires a small amount of blood which you place on a disposable test strip that is then tested in the meter for results.

When choosing the meter that is adequately suited for your needs, it is best to remember that every meter is different. Some meters measure the glucose in your blood when the chemicals on the test strip combine with the glucose present in your blood. Other meters measure the electricity levels that pass through the small blood sample and there are even other glucose meters that can measure the amount of light that is reflected in a blood sample.

The biggest question is, "Which meter is right for me?"

To answer that, one must keep a few things in mind. You have to take into consideration the amount of blood that you will be required to test (generally less is better). If you're a busy individual and require that your blood glucose testing be quick, you're going to need a meter that gives you accurate results quickly. Some blood glucose meters require only a few short seconds to process the results. For those that are frequent travelers, smaller compact meters are convenient for carrying and traveling for an individual constantly on the go. Certain meters come equipped with a back light to allow easy reading. If you are an individual that struggles with the decreasing size of technology, make sure to choose a blood glucose meter that offers a larger display, or choose a meter that uses cartridges rather than individual test strips. Keeping track of your blood glucose levels can become more efficient if you choose a meter that enables sophisticated management systems that track diet and exercise as well as blood glucose.

If you're frequently on the go, consider a blood glucose meter that does not require loading test strips, coding the meter, or handling lancets each time that you test. A meter that requires a small amount of extracted blood will also increase the speed in which results may be processed. Some blood glucose meters can process results in as few as five seconds, allowing you to spend more time focusing on the task at hand rather than your blood glucose levels.

If you would like to reduce the pain of testing, choose a system that includes a lancing device that is designed to minimize pain. Others offer multi-site testing that enables you to easily test on other areas, such as the upper arm, leg, or even the stomach. Having a multi-site glucose meter gives you the flexibility to rotate the site of testing to ease sore spots and increase comfort. Meters that take a smaller amount of blood may require only light skin penetration, limiting the depths of the lancet intrusion.

Keeping up with your blood glucose levels is critically important, so naturally choosing the perfect meter should be as well. Take the time to browse the different models and make a selection that is tailored to your lifestyle. Stay healthy!