AJMC Hosts Patient-Centered Diabetes Care: Putting Theory into Practice

As the healthcare landscape evolves, so will the way that providers help patients manage their diabetes. In fact, Harvard Law School policy researchers recently found that when pharmacists coordinate and collaborate with other healthcare professionals, they can improve the health outcomes of patients with diabetes. These findings add to other emerging research which suggests that improving diabetes care management will require industry-wide participation and focus on patients in order to improve outcomes. Other policy reforms, such as the Affordable Care Act, also underscore the need for a retooling of diabetes care.

This evolving concept of patient-centered diabetes management is also being highlighted at the Patient-Centered Diabetes Care: Putting Theory into Practice event, held by The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) April 10-11 in Princeton, NJ.

Speakers at the event include a variety of notable icons including ironman triathlete Jay Hewitt, who became the first person with diabetes to qualify for the US National Triathlon Team, and innovative health leaders such as keynote speaker Robert A. Gabbay, MD, PhD, chief medical officer and senior vice president, Joslin Diabetes Center.

In a recent AJMCtv interview, Dr Gabbay specified why AJMC’s event is so unique:

“[It] will bring leaders from all areas of the diabetes epidemic that will focus on innovative new treatments and diagnosis of complications and prevention of complications,” he said. “We view that these individuals will collectively help to come up with new approaches and ideas that can be applicable to providers, provider organizations, payer organizations, and employers, to really tackle this incredible epidemic that we face.”

The importance of collaboration among the diabetes care team isn’t the only topic being discussed at this event. Other session and panel discussion topics include everything from the impact of new practice models and use of health information technology to diabetes management in accountable care organizations (ACOs). In fact, Dr Gabbay recently explained how ACOs might shape the future of diabetes care:

“In order to save money on patients with diabetes, what you’re looking to do is implement better care practices. No longer is it that one—in a sense—profits from the complications of diabetes,” he said. “Really, now, the savings come from taking better care of diabetes, which is what we’ve always wanted to do all along. But now, finally, the financial incentives are more aligned with what we want to deliver.”

It seems that changing the industry’s preconceptions about diabetes care will require both the integration of technology as well as restructuring the methods by which physicians are reimbursed. Continually learning and adapting to these evolving needs will improve patient outcomes.

For more information and event highlights, please visit: http://www.AJMC.com/meetings/diabetes.

Around the Web

Harvard Law School: Include Pharmacists on Diabetes Care Teams [APA]

Robert A. Gabbay, MD, PhD, on ACOs and Diabetes Management [AJMC]