Streamline Operations to Improve Patient Health Outcomes in Diabetes Care - A Case Study

Client Background

The client, based in Georgia, manages a traditional healthcare practice that treats patients with diabetes. The client has primarily conducted in-person consultations and follow-up visits. They have gained widespread recognition for their medical expertise, compassion, and commitment to delivering enhanced patient-centered care to achieve improved patient health outcomes.

Business challenges

The client faced various business challenges while managing the patients for several years. Some of the challenges faced by the client are:

1. Patient blood sugar management

Factors like diet, physical activity, stress, illness, and medication adjustments cause fluctuations in patient blood glucose levels. In a traditional healthcare setting, it is becoming difficult for care providers to manage patients' blood glucose levels and keep track of them.

2. Multidisciplinary team coordination

Diabetes management of patients requires continuous efforts and attention and takes a prolonged duration. The care involves various care providers like dieticians, health educationalists, pharmacists, and physicians, and the lack of communication facilities hampers the coordination between them.

3. Increased patient hospital readmissions

Fluctuations in patient blood sugar levels tend to increase hospital readmission rates and emergency visits. This increased hospital readmission puts a strain on care providers as fewer care providers need to consult more patients.

4. Medication adherence challenges

Following the medication schedules as prescribed by the care providers is a crucial aspect of diabetes management. Patients often tend to unfollow routine medication schedules, which is considered a tedious task. This is the most significant challenge the client has faced that affected the patient's health outcomes.

Solution

Overcoming the business challenges to obtain the expected patient health outcomes, the client has approached Medarch Inc. for eCareMD software that facilitates enhanced quality of care through effective care coordination.
The client has approached Medarch Inc. for eCareMD software. For requirement gathering, our team has taken multiple calls and demonstrations with clients and implemented the software into the client’s practice after receiving the approval.

Solution Highlights

The eCareMD software consists of advanced technological features that enhance care delivery and help obtain expected patient health outcomes.

1. Remote blood glucose monitoring

The eCareMD software is integrated with remote glucose monitoring devices like a smart glucometer, which displays accurate and live patient glucose readings on the care provider’s eCareMD dashboard whenever the patient takes the reading. This collection and transmission of real-time blood glucose readings of patient health enables care providers to see trends and fluctuations and helps them make informed decisions and interventions. These features have helped in obtaining expected patient health outcomes and avoiding health complications.

2. Centralized communication and medical records

Coordination among the care providers plays a very important role in the delivery of enhanced patient-centered care. This was the significant challenge the client faced, and the secure communication channels of eCareMD software have overcome it as it allows care providers to communicate through voice/video calls, messaging, and real-time chat features. Also, care providers were able to access the centralized patient medical information in the software, enabling them to make informed decisions about patient health.

3. Alerts and notifications feature

Fluctuations in the blood sugar levels are the most common concern associated with diabetes patients. It is important to handle it diligently, which can be done by the alerts and notification feature of eCareMD.
The alert generated for the blood sugar reading goes beyond the threshold level and notifies the care provider, which allows them to make necessary interventions on time and modify the care plan as per the patient's health requirement. Early interventions by the care providers helped avoid complications in patient health and thereby reduced the patient hospital readmission rate and emergency visits.

4. Customizable reminders for medications

Considering medication adherence an important part of care, the eCareMD software enables care providers to configure medication reminders, including time, frequency, and notification medium (Email, SMS, Push Notification). This helps patients avoid missing medicine and follow the medication schedule.
This feature has increased patients' medication adherence and subsequently improved their health outcomes.

Value Delivered

1. Real-Time Insights

Care providers receive accurate, live glucose readings directly on the eCareMD dashboard, enabling immediate awareness of patient status.

2. Informed Decision-Making

Centralized access to patient medical records ensures all providers have comprehensive information for better decision-making.

3. Reduced Complications

Early interventions help prevent health complications, lowering the rates of hospital readmissions and emergency visits.

4. Improved Health Outcomes

Higher medication adherence leads to better management of diabetes and improved overall health outcomes for patients.