GARDEN CITY, New York-Heritage New York Medical Group, part of Heritage Medical Systems, is offering physicians interactive health-monitoring devices as part of an expanded disease management program. 

The devices target patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. Upon receipt of their device, patients connect the wireless unit to a normal telephone line. The unit, about the size of a paperback book, has large response buttons, which patients use daily to answer health status questions. Their answers are complied and posted on a secure Web site for review by the patients' physicians. 

In return, doctors can send their patients reminders, feedback, and tips for disease management. Based on answers to health status questions, patients can be monitored for rapid intervention if necessary. 

The system is expected to reduce paperwork and allows physicians to have a daily report on the status of their patients. 