A portable health assistant
system having a portable health assistant, a computer
server remotely accessible by the portable health assistant, and a
Web browser through which a clinician can communicate with the computer
server. The portable health assistant is a handheld
microprocessor-based device with a display screen and a touch screen interface through which a patient can input information. Through
multimedia software content, the portable health assistant provides the patient with such features as reminding the patient when to perform tasks in their prescribed
treatment regimen, collecting information about the patient's compliance with the prescribed
treatment regimen, collecting information about the patient's symptoms, providing the patient with educational information teaching the patient about the patient's
disease, instructing the patient how to use a home health monitoring device, and receiving the readings of the monitoring device through a direct connection with the monitoring device. By communicating with the computer
server, the portable health assistant can receive order updates from the clinician and transmit information collected from the patient to the server for review by the clinician. The clinician can review the
patient information and issue orders modifying the patient's
treatment regimen at the server itself or from a remote
Web browser in communication with the server. The server can also send alerts to the clinician if the server determines that the
patient data merits special attention from the clinician.