Open AccessClinical Practice Experiences Using a Professional Diabetes Management Ecosystem During COVID
Author(s) -
Juan Francisco Merino Torres,
Mike Grady,
Alfonso López Alba,
Lía NatteroChávez,
Alicia Justel Enríquez,
Ruth Gaspar,
Lourdes Aizpeolea San Miguel,
Flor Menendez Alvarez,
Elsa Nunes Pinto,
Friedrich Wilhelm Petry,
Jörn Rose,
Maria Weyland,
Barbara Scherer,
Doreen Birkemeyer,
Alessandro Scorsone,
Michela Petrizzo,
Alessio Lai,
Giuseppe Gravina,
Ann Verhaegen,
Maria-Helena Smet,
Lieve Verhaegen,
Ilde Van den Bulck,
Ann De Bie,
Elizabeth H. Holt
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of diabetes science and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.039
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1932-3107
pISSN - 1932-2968
DOI - 10.1177/19322968211065778
Subject(s) - telemedicine , medicine , digital ecosystem , pandemic , health care , diabetes management , population , telehealth , digital health , nursing , family medicine , covid-19 , diabetes mellitus , type 2 diabetes , knowledge management , disease , environmental health , pathology , endocrinology , computer science , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , economic growth
Background: Challenges of patient care in diabetes were exacerbated by COVID, undermining the ability of patients to engage in-person with health care professionals (HCPs). To combat this, there has been accelerated adoption of telemedicine to support patient and provider connectivity.Methods: We collated survey information regarding telemedicine from 21 European clinical institutions. Health care professionals joined virtual meetings focusing on the OneTouch Reveal (OTR) ecosystem and its utility for conducting telemedicine. Selected HCPs provided clinical case studies to explain how the OTR ecosystem supported patient care.Results: Remote consultations increased by nearly 50% in 21 European clinics during the pandemic (Belgium [24%], Iberia [65%], Germany [34%], Italy [54%]). In all, 52% of people with diabetes using OTR app to connect remotely with HCPs had type 1 diabetes and 48% had type 2 diabetes. Remote connection methods included telephone (60%), email (19%), video chat (10%), text only (3%), or a mix of these methods (8%). Health care professionals usually reviewed patient data during consultations (45%) rather than before consultations (25%). Fifty-five percent of HCPs indicated digital ecosystems like OTR ecosystem would become their standard of care for diabetes management. In-depth conversations with HCPs provided a deeper understanding of how a digital ecosystem integrated into clinical practice and population management. In addition, five patient case studies using OTR ecosystem were provided by a selection of our HCPs.Conclusion: Diabetes management solutions, such as OTR ecosystem, supported telemedicine during the pandemic and will continue to play a valuable role in patient care beyond the pandemic.