LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. - Flora Mirasola ,78, is back home after spending four weeks in the hospital with pneumonia. She suffers from COPD, a lung disease that makes breathing difficult. She needs to see doctors and nurses frequently. And luckily for her, they come right to her home.

"Being home, I can do more," said Mirasola.

Ordinarily, Flora is visited by a Warren County Health nurse but Tuesday New York State Health Commissioner Richard Daines made the house call with her to see first-hand how some new technology is keeping Flora's medical team updated on her condition even when they're not there.

The type of monitor used is fairly new and used for people with heart and lung problems.

"The monitor shows their blood pressure, heart rate, pulse, and their weight. It comes through on a machine to us via satellite to our central station. It helps the patient take active participation in their care," said Warren County Health Services Nurse, Maureen Linnehan.

Doctors and nurses in the North Country said this new technology helps patients like Flora stay connected even when they're not in the hospital.

"This is very advanced. Because of the challenges, they've got people designing and thinking ahead of a lot of other areas," Daines said.

"We're able to be confident that she'll be ok since we can watch her from afar," Hudson Headwaters CEO John Rugge said.

Allowing both the patient and the doctor to breathe a little easier.