Feb 21, 2011 13:39 GMT  ·  By

Tablets may have become more or less synonymous with media slates, but the fact remains that other markets besides the consumer segment are benefiting from their rising popularity, as proven by the HP Slate 500.

HP may have been among the companies that revealed a new media tablet during MWC 2011 (Mobile World Congress) but it definitely has more in store.

In fact, a certain tablet device intended for use in healthcare actually preceded the Touchpad, its name being the HP Slate 500.

Granted, the product did go through its own set of hitches, like having its shipments put on hold because of too strong demand.

Now, however, it seems that the world's greatest PC supplier is finally ready to get serious in the field of healthcare.

What the company did was issue a press release in which it detailed its strategy, its so-called Telehealth programs, which involves multiple of its products.

The list includes such things as the HP EliteBook 8540w and HP EliteBook 8740w mobile workstations, notebooks compliant with the Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) 3.14 calibration standard.

The aforementioned tablet is also part of the telehealth solutions, as it is a highly portable and functional mobile device that can facilitate access and remote management of patients via the interactive voice and video communication features.

“HP is committed to providing industry-leading, comprehensive telehealth solutions for cost-effective and accurate remote patient monitoring and care,” said Chris Mertens, vice president, Healthcare, Personal Systems Group, HP.

“Through our close collaboration with innovative technology leaders, HP telehealth solutions bring physicians and care givers to the point of care, regardless of their location, with fast, reliable and enhanced secure technology.”

HP's Slate 500 weighs 1.5 pounds and can remotely connect to LifeBot DREAMS systems (Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services), usable to transmit patient data live, even from ambulances.