The system, called Motiva, uses broadband technology to connect patients to their care providers through their home television set, in an effort to help them become actively involved in managing their healthcare from home.

It works like this: patients take their vital signs on wireless devices from home. This data is then sent via a secure transmission to the patient’s healthcare provider for review. A nurse can send back educational content, personalized feedback and motivational messages.

Philips claims that using a television set will facilitate the process and enables patients to bypass the internet or computers, which some may find daunting.

The overall aim of the new system is to motivate patients to modify their behavior by following their doctor’s guidelines, to improve quality of life for the chronically ill and to drive down chronic health care costs by reducing hospital readmissions and allowing doctors to stay in better contact with patients after they leave the hospital.