The Digital Path to Improved Patient Engagement in Self-Care

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Howard Wolpert, MD, senior physician in adult diabetes at Joslin Diabetes Center, director of Joslin Institute for Technology Translation, and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, recognizes 3 issues with current care delivery models that with modification, can change diabetes care in this emerging digital health era. These factors, he pointed out, include: a serious lack of diabetes specialists, an unsuccessful acute-based therapeutic model that concentrates on prescriptive dose adjustment, and an unrealistic care delivery model of patient scheduled office visits. Dr Wolpert believes that care models currently in place are not effectively promoting patient engagement, self-care and self-management skills. Further, they do not adequately satisfying the needs of a patient with a chronic disease like diabetes who may require 24/7 support.

For patients at high risk for severe hypoglycemia, Dr Wolpert says there is an emerging need for a systematic approach to identifying these individuals who suffer from hypoglycemia unawareness and frequent hypoglycemia, for therapeutic intervention.

Dr Wolpert envisions a digital infrastructure that will change the current care model by incorporating episodic on-demand guidance as well as varying care methods that are dependent on individual needs. A care model such as the one Dr Wolpert is working on will help support and sustain patient engagement, he added.