What is the West Wireless Health Institute?
The West Wireless Health Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit medical research organization, one of the first in the world supporting the exploration and application of wireless technologies to advance infrastructure independent health care - which translates to the right care, at the right time, wherever a patient may be.
The Institute’s primary mission is to cut health care costs by accelerating the availability of wireless medical technology. Such technologies hold the potential to revolutionize health care delivery by dramatically reducing costs; increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of health care providers; and extending the reach of health care services across populations in the United States and globally.
Who established the Institute?
The Institute is an independent, nonprofit organization founded and funded with a $45 million grant from the Gary and Mary West Foundation in March 2009. In addition to founding the Institute, Gary West is Chairman of the Board.
What is the Institute’s purpose?
The Institute’s purpose is to move emerging wireless health technologies quickly into the hands of doctors, health care organizations and consumers – ensuring along the way that life-enhancing and lifesaving devices and products are safe, secure, reliable and cost-effective.
To achieve its mission, the Institute will innovate and incubate promising wireless health technologies; validate the value of such technologies; advocate enlightened policy to accelerate their availability; advance the next generation of wireless health leaders; and collaborate through action-oriented partnerships throughout business, technology, health care and academia.
What is wireless health?
Wireless health is an emerging field of medicine and health care practice. Its lexicon includes telemedicine, e-health, mobile health and mHealth. Its players range from small start-up ventures, to Fortune 500 companies, to leading universities and foundations.
Wireless health encompasses a broad range of solutions including remote monitoring, medication compliance and imaging. Examples include “smart” bandages that track and transmit vital signs in real time; pills that monitor and aid drug adherence; and mobile ultrasound imaging devices.
What roles will the Institute play to advance the emerging field of wireless health?
Research & Development
The Institute will be a global hub for research activity to develop and validate the efficacy of wireless health solutions. In addition to conducting its own clinical research projects, the Institute will facilitate clinical research studies with others.
Education
The Institute aims to bring together the best minds in medicine, engineering, science, and technology from around the world and become a global resource for wireless health education. Current and planned initiatives include postdoctoral fellowships, physician and consumer training, and conferences and workshops.
In addition, the Institute is developing its Web site to be a ‘one-stop’ resource for information, thought leadership, policy and networking opportunities in the field of wireless health.
Standards
Wireless health is an emerging field of medicine, and as such, is breaking new ground. There is an immediate need to formulate a common set of standards for the field, including regulatory and reimbursement criteria. The Institute will work in concert with a wide range of stakeholders to formulate these criteria, as well as help establish standards for privacy, security and related concerns.
How does an organization become a partner of the Institute?
The Institute is dedicated to working with health care organizations, medical device and technology companies, academic institutions, foundations, inventors and entrepreneurs from around the world. The Institute is forging partnerships with like-minded stakeholders to drive innovation and advance the emerging field of wireless health, with the goal of lowering health care costs in the United States and around the world.
We are open to collaboration with anyone and everyone who shares our common vision for wireless health. To learn more visit the Collaborate section of our Web site under Join Us.
Does the Institute accept proposals or make grants?
No. The Institute is not a funding or grant-making organization.
Are clinical trials underway at the Institute?
In June 2009, the Institute announced its first clinical trial with Corventis. The trial is designed to clinically validate remote wireless monitoring technology in proactively managing heart failure patients and reducing hospital readmissions. Corventis’ remote monitoring wireless system was approved by the FDA in February 2009. Participation in the pivotal randomized trial with the Institute and Corventis will be offered to the sites supported by the National Institutes of Health Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) National Consortium, which consists of more than 40 of the most prestigious academic medical centers in the United States.
Where is the Institute located?
The Institute is headquartered in San Diego, California, which is a global hub for life science and wireless research and development. The Institute’s 37,000 square foot facility includes extensive engineering and clinical lab space and opened in December 2009.
How do I find out about employment opportunities at the Institute?
The Institute will bring together the best minds in science, technology and health from around the world. To learn more about opportunities at the Institute, view job postings on the homepage or visit the Careers section of the Web site.