Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/122157
"Joslin Everywhere is a concept, not a piece of technology or equipment," Carver says. "It's the idea that Joslin and all the resources we have should be available to anyone who has diabetes or is at risk. And any professional taking care of somebody with diabetes should be able to access our expertise. This is the concept that Joslin can be everywhere — in your home, in your car, on your desktop, on your tablet, on your phone." Joslin's first virtual patient care program, a weightmanagement module for diabetics, was successfully piloted with the YMCA and launched online January 1, 2012, for Joslin patients and providers. It debuted in February 2012 with Joslin's partner, Beth Israel Deaconess Physician Organization. Other initiatives under way or in development include: + live video conferencing that allows providers to conduct virtual appointments with patients + a portal that allows patients to access their electronic health records (EHRs) and email their providers securely + virtual diabetes education classes and other educational resources for patients + physician access to new research, continuing medical education courses and guides to using EHRs to detect problems in their patient population "We think Joslin Everywhere is going to make a difference," Carver says. "Over time, it's going to improve outcomes. People are going to feel engaged in their care. They'll have stronger partnerships with their primary care physicians because they'll be better informed. They're going to feel supported. In the long run, we think we can make a dent." Keeping Technology Simple From animated PowerPoint presentations that demonstrate the function of the pancreas to word-processing documents that keep track of patients' prescriptions, even technology at its simplest can be helpful to patients and physicians. Draheim points out that, for the first time in history, the health care industry is caring for four generations of diabetics at the same time. Patients have different levels of comfort with different kinds of technology. As a diabetes educator for 35 years, Draheim experiments to see what makes "the light bulbs go on" as she explains diabetes management to patients of all ages. The onus, she says, is on physicians and diabetes educators to stay abreast of the latest developments in technology to learn how these developments can help patients. "We need to understand these [technologies] because the people who will be our patients will know these things," Draheim says. "Health care professionals need to have an appreciation for technology. They should have a healthy knowledge of the fact that these tools are out there." Innovation in Diabetes Care What makes mobile health truly transformative is its ability to actively engage patients in their health care. Remote monitoring devices enable patients to record health measures such as blood glucose readings and send them electronically to physicians. Carver and Draheim agree that the possibilities are endless. "Every week here, someone is thinking of doing something a new way," Carver says. "We need to continue to innovate and learn. Things are moving so quickly that what we know now will be in the prehistoric ages in another year. We're in the dark ages still with what we know, but we're traveling at the speed of light." For more information about the Joslin Diabetes Center, visit www.joslin.org. To contact Marcia Draheim, email marciedraheim@gmail.com. I "Nothing can replace the benefits of the diabetes educator-patient interaction, but by counseling your patients on technological tools that fit their learning styles and their lifestyles, you can extend their experiences and connect them to valuable resources." — Marcia Draheim, R.N., CDE, President of Draheim Dimensional Presentations, past president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators MDNEWS.COM I MD NEWS San Antonio | 21