Reducing Diabetes Costs May Be A High Tech Business: President Obama has both ardent supporters as well as equally ardent detractors from plans he has expressed to alter health care on the United States. Republican Senator Mike Enzi from Wyoming recently said, “We see that as a slippery slope to having the government run everything.”
Protesters have been an ever-present companion to Obama’s push for reformation. The most radical of comments liken the idea of government health care to Socialism.
On the other side of the fence are individuals seeking answers to what many consider a health care crisis.
Obama has been very vocal about the need to reduce health care costs. A trial partnership is attempting to come up with a few answers before some questions are even asked.
A recent article in the Miami Herald indicates proof of the partnership; “Microsoft is teaming with the University of Miami for a study to see if software and primary care can improve the healthcare of 25 diabetics in Overtown.”
You may wonder what a computer software manufacturer might be able to offer diabetic patients. “Microsoft is donating several software platforms. Other grants are contributing computers to the patients, most of whom are on Medicaid.
“The idea is that the system can measure patients’ interactions with nurses and doctors, their weight and blood sugar levels and other matters,” according to the Miami Herald report.
The University of Miami will be using the computers and software to forge an interactive relationship with their patients. Miami mayor Manny Diaz responded in a press release, “We are always looking to new technologies to increase the reach of services to our constituents as well as improve their health outcomes, especially for our neediest residents. The Overtown Health Project is another step forward for Elevate Miami, our public/private partnership to offer affordable technology packages that ensure residents and businesses are digitally enabled.”
It is widely believed that health technology will be the next big thing in computer software. Microsoft may be working to lead the way by encouraging developers to use their platform. Jack Hersey of Microsoft said in a press release. “Considering that diabetes is one of the leading illnesses in the United States, the ability for patients to more accurately track and manage their condition can have a meaningful impact on their personal health as well as the cost containment for our customers. These types of solutions can be replicated and implemented in any hospital or clinic in the country.”
One of the primary benefits of this program is that doctors can have daily access to information about patients and can address issues as they develop and not simply on the next scheduled visit or, worse yet, in an emergency scenario.
The integration of data and timely medical analysis could have the potential of reducing health care costs because issues can be addressed much sooner and education on health issues can be accessed through the high tech connection between patient and physician. The hope is that the 24 diabetic patients participating in Overtown will provide some sense of a model that could be adapted in multiple health care scenarios.
Overtown has been described as, “A predominantly African-American neighborhood in the city of Miami located near the Miami Health District, which includes the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center. The study is funded by the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Miami with support from the United Health Foundation.”
