Dr. Joe Kvedar Announces First Book, THE INTERNET OF HEALTHY THINGS

BOSTON, Oct. 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ Connected health pioneer, Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, describes the phenomena driving the explosion of technology-enabled health and wellness, and the business opportunities that arise from it in his new book, The Internet of Healthy Things. Long before health and wellness trackers, apps, sensors or smartphones even existed, Dr. Kvedar, vice president, Connected Health, Partners HealthCare, was creating a new model of health care delivery, moving care from the hospital or doctor's office into the day-to-day lives of patients.

The Internet of Healthy Things (IoHT) shares Dr. Kvedar's observations as a 20-year veteran in the field, as well as:

• Insights on consumer behavior, outlining the strategies and programs that can apply to the coming IoHT, while anticipating future trends
• Approaches to designing personal health devices and platforms that make the health consumer experience more compelling and addictive
• Advice on new and potential applications of form factors that can be used to connect health information to consumers, from the large variety of devices flooding the market
• Strategic advice for startups and entrepreneurs to the connected health market
• Interviews with top industry leaders, healthcare providers, innovators and investors
• Foreword by Harry L. Leider, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer and Group Vice President, Walgreens

"The Internet of Healthy Things not only marks the twentieth anniversary of Partners Connected Health, but the invention of a radically new way to deliver healthcare and inspire wellness," said Dr. Kvedar. "Today, we have technologies available that were never even dreamed of just 10 years ago, and market dynamics that make connected health solutions a prime driver in changing healthcare delivery. I often see investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders floundering to respond to the exploding opportunities and pace of change. This book takes the lessons we've learned over the past 20 years and brings them into focus, providing guidance on the investments, business strategies and technology considerations necessary to achieve results and profit from the chaos."

According to Dr. Leider, "No one has done more to power the creation of new models of healthcare delivery than Joe Kvedar and his colleagues at Partners HealthCare. Healthcare leaders throughout the world look to Joe and Partners Connected Health to help them understand how emerging healthcare technologies can connect patients, healthcare providers and caregivers while empowering patients to take more responsibility for their health."

Dr. Kvedar announced his new book today at the 2015 Partners Connected Health Symposium taking place in Boston.

The Internet of Healthy Things will be available on Amazon beginning November 1.

About Dr. Joe Kvedar
Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, vice president, Connected Health, Partners HealthCare, is leveraging personal health technologies to improve care delivery and help providers and patients better manage chronic conditions, maintain health and wellness and improve adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes.

Under Dr. Kvedar's two decades of leadership, Partners Connected Health has launched a number of innovative health tracking programs, mobile health, virtual care initiatives and clinical research programs for the more than 1.5 million patients served at Partners HealthCare, including Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, community and specialty hospitals, community health centers, home care and other health-related entities.Its programs address a wide range of health challenges, from heart failure, hypertension and diabetes, to prenatal care, medication adherence, cancer pain management, teen asthma and smoking cessation. Partners Connected Health has also conducted seminal studies that have demonstrated the positive impact of personal health and wellness monitoring to promote and maintain healthy behaviors.

Dr. Kvedar, who is internationally recognized as a pioneer and visionary in the field of connected health, has authored over 1,000 publications on the subject. He serves as a strategic advisor and mentor at a number of leading organizations and incubators, providing guidance and insight to developing companies. Dr. Kvedar is also a mentor at the Harvard Innovation Lab and serves as a judge for its President's Challenge for Entrepreneurship.

In 2013, Dr. Kvedar launched Wellocracy, a leading source of impartial, easy-to-understand information on new personal "self-health" technologies like activity trackers, wireless devices and mobile apps to empower people to get and stay healthy.

Partners Connected Health
Partners is leveraging information technology cell phones, computers, wearables, sensors and remote health monitoring tools to deliver quality patient care outside of traditional medical settings. Partners Connected Health programs are also helping providers and patients better manage chronic conditions, maintain health and wellness and improve adherence, engagement and clinical outcomes. The Connected Health team creates and deploys mobile technologies in a number of patient populations and care settings, and is conducting innovative clinical studies to test the effectiveness of mobile health technologies in various clinical applications, including medication adherence, care coordination, chronic disease management, and prevention and wellness. Visit www.partners.org/connectedhealth.

Partners HealthCare
Partners HealthCare is an integrated health system founded by Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. In addition to its two academic medical centers, the Partners system includes community and specialty hospitals, a managed care organization, community health centers, a physician network, home health and long-term care services, and other health care entities. Partners HealthCare is committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. Partners is one of the nation's leading biomedical research organizations and a principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Partners HealthCare is a non-profit organization. Visit www.partners.org.

CONTACT:Gina Cella
Cella Communications
T: 857-239-9198
C: 781-799-3137
ginacella@comcast.net

SOURCE Partners Connected Health