In the ever-growing world of diabetes management, there are those who see the benefits of mHealth in facilitating patient engagement, and those who see the need for a "personal touch." A new partnership is looking to bring those two camps together on one platform.
DPS Health, a Los Angeles-based developer of online health management tools, has joined forces with Achieving Better Control (ABC), an Ambler, Pa.-based developer of diabetes education programs, to create what executives are calling a fully integrated platform. Initially marketed for employers, the offering gives diabetics and those with pre-diabetic conditions the option of in-person services, online resources, or both.
"Some people gravitate towards an mHealth toolset, while others aren't comfortable with using the technology," said Michael Freedman, ABC's president. He said ABC and DPS "are both doing very good at the two ends of the spectrum," and the partnership looks to "bridge that gap with a deeper set of tools."
"This broadens the audience," added Adam Kaufman, DPS Health's CEO.
And that audience is big. Diabetes currently affects about 26 million Americans, or about 10 percent of the nation's population, and the Centers for Disease Control has estimated that more than half of the nation could be either diabetic or have the potential to become diabetic by 2020.
Kaufman and Freedman say the diabetes prevention and management field is a tricky one, as it involves engaging with consumers who aren't making the best health and lifestyle decisions and trying to change their behaviors. ABC, a 15-year-old company with programs in about 30 locations, focuses on face-to-face (such as group meetings) and phone support in weekly sessions for six months. DPS, through its Virtual Lifestyle Management (VLM) program, offers a year-long, online platform that urges users to adopt healthier habits like eating better, exercising and losing weight.
ABC's program "is a very group-centric model," said Freedman. "The group dynamic is very important. … Behavior change starts with building confidence, and that starts with support."
For Freedman, the ABC-DPS partnership enables patients who begin with ABC to transition into DPS' online support platform more easily. Kaufman, meanwhile, sees ABC as providing the foundation for DPS, building the confidence of those who might not be ready for online health management tools.
The two companies are launching their integrated platform in the Philadelphia area, building on ABC's home turf, before branching out to other parts of the country. And Kaufman, whose company targets more than just the diabetic population, sees the potential for using this platform to manage other chronic conditions, perhaps even hospital readmissions.
For now, though, they're targeting the diabetes and pre-diabetes population.
"The DPS Health-ABC partnership creates an effective balance of technology between online interaction, which also allows for expansion of the program to a much broader audience, and the more intimate, face-to-face coaching that enables program participants an opportunity to connect in-person when and where they need support," said Freedman in an August 1 press release announcing the collaboration. "Working hand-in-hand with other healthcare professionals including the patient's physician, ABC brings a depth of expertise and experience that complements the DPS Health offering and enhances the patient's overall experience."
Added Kaufman in the release: "The diabetes epidemic has reached a level that employers and healthcare organizations can no longer afford to ignore or use band-aid approaches to combat. Through extensive research around VLM and more than nine years of working closely with our customers, we have gained keen insight and understanding of the specific needs and barriers of those dealing with lifestyle challenges, weight management issues and chronic diseases like diabetes. The value in this integrated program comes from our shared understanding of what it takes to drive lifestyle change within this particular audience. We are excited to offer employers in the Philadelphia area an integrated diabetes prevention solution alongside ABC."
