Dr. Eugene Wright Stresses Diabetes Care is a TEAM Endeavor

Dr. Eugene Wright is an internist with 40+ years of experience, specializing in the management and treatment of diabetes and related conditions. He has practiced across the spectrum of private practice, academic teaching, and integrated delivery systems. He is a long-term member of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and serves on the Primary Care Interest Group of the ADA, of which he was the inaugural Chair. Dr. Wright serves as a senior medical advisor to Stability Health.

We recently sat down with Dr. Wright for a Q & A about the healthcare industry, the treatment of diabetes and the critical role that Stability Health plays in the delivery of diabetes care.

What are some of the biggest challenges facing the delivery of improved diabetes care? Sadly, a person’s zip code has a greater impact on their health outcomes than their genetic code. Often, those in rural-based communities are not receiving the care they need, because the healthcare practices and systems in their geography may not have access to the range of support services as other localities. It is important that we reduce the disparities in care for underserved communities, whether that is based on gender, race, weight, age, geography, etc. so that those who need care the most have access to the care they need.

How can Stability Health address this challenge? In some respects, they already are. They are providing underserved communities with access to endocrinologists, dieticians, and health coaches, supporting clinicians who do not have the time or training to deliver more specialized care to their patients. In addition to relieving the burden of care on the clinical staff with specialized team support, they are also relieving the burden of care for the patient, who receives the individualized assistance that they need in between medical appointments. All of this helps to improve the quality of care. This highlights that diabetes care is a TEAM endeavor.

What do you wish health care systems knew about Stability Health? I wish they understood that by working with Stability Health’s successful care model that combines innovative technology that delivers specialist expertise to clinical care teams with a hands-on coaching platform for patients, will reduce health resource utilization. In so doing, this care delivery model also reduces the cost of care to patients, many of whom end up in costly care environments for which the health systems may not be reimbursed, such as re-hospitalizations.

And what do you wish that clinicians knew about its transformative care model? That working with Stability Health healthcare professionals (HCPs) can improve their quality goal attainment, while saving time using a team-based care approach. Stability Health uses rules engines that embed evidence-based standards of care from a variety of professional organizations, and collects information to create a comprehensive individualized care plan for HCPs. Attainment of quality goals can translate into enhanced reimbursement, while taking less of the HCPs time.

Concluding Thoughts

In the United States, there is a shrinking supply of endocrinologists and clinicians who specialize in diabetes care; however, the number of patients suffering from diabetes is growing. It’s critical that collectively, we: 1) improve the health of this population, no matter where they live and regardless of their race, gender, size, etc.; 2) decrease the cost of care to this group; 3) improve patient satisfaction in the treatment of this disease; and 4) support medical personnel as they treat this population.

The Stability Health care model serves all of these broad constituents and issues. It improves the quality of health care, while decreasing both patient and physician burnout. And they have strong clinical and financial results to support these claims.