Twenty-five diabetic patients will be given computers that connect them to health care providers to maintain an ongoing dialogue about their condition, and allow doctors to monitor their status, in a new patient-care experiment by Microsoft and the University of Miami, the Miami Herald reports.

Experts say the program – which could improve efficiencies by reducing the number of expensive hospital visits by the chronically ill – reflects Washington’s focus on reducing unnecessary costs as part of health reform (Dorschner, 6/11).

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