New Mobile App Will Use Texting for Diabetes Management

From: HealthIT Buzz,  June 24, 2011

BEI Commentary: We talk a lot about EHRs, but we are really just scratching the surface of what IT can do to improve the health of patients.  Here is a description of a new service that will utilize text messaging to help diabetics get proper care.  It is modeled after a similar program that focused on pregnant women.

Health care improvement often refers to the process of making changes to the way health care is delivered by providers.  But actions to improve and reform the health care delivery system can only go so far. As Dr. Don Berwick, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services often reminds us, the delivery system doesn’t have much control over the biggest factors that influence a person’s overall health. For example, a doctor doesn’t decide what each of their patients eats, whether every patient takes their medications, or how individuals respond to symptoms of chronic diseases like diabetes. Those health choices rest squarely with the individual.

Beacon Communities Seek New Health Improvement Opportunities

While the Beacon Communities have made significant investments in improving health care delivery in the 17 areas where they operate, they also constantly seek out improvement opportunities that exist outside of the traditional delivery system. For example, they search for new sources of information, new support mechanisms, and new tools that make it easier for individuals  to access the care they need and better manage their own health. Read More