Kerr Drug Pilots CONFIDANT® Mobile Phone-based Diabetes Management Solution
Raleigh, N.C. (June 23, 2008) -- Kerr Drug will pilot a study on an innovative mobile phone-based solution for intensive diabetes management. Kerr Drug's Diabetes Education Program, recognized by the American Diabetes Association, will be enhanced by providing participants with an Abbott Freestyle Freedom glucose meter and a mobile phone equipped with the CONFIDANT® Diabetes Coach application. The CONFIDANT® Diabetes Coach enables the patient's mobile phone to wirelessly collect daily glucose readings from the Abbott Freestyle Freedom glucose meter, providing positive feedback and coaching to the user to support better self-management. At the same time, Kerr's clinical pharmacist will receive daily updates from each participant allowing for more timely and productive discussions, in conjunction with the patient's doctor, to assist with diabetes management.
Diabetes is a public health problem of increasing magnitude. The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in the United States has increased to 17.5 million people in 2007. Approximately 8.3% of the population in North Carolina has diabetes, well above the national average of 7.3%. Kerr Drug has been a pioneer in providing meaningful interface between the clinical pharmacist and patient to help educate and manage diabetes in conjunction with the patient's physician. In this pilot, Kerr will use mobile technology to further enhance the exchange of communication with the patient and enable better tracking of results through the storage and display of information on his phone.
According to Kerr manager of diabetes services and principal investigator for the pilot, Ron DeVizia, PharmD, "the CONFIDANT® technology is a tool for obtaining real-time data, which will enable the pharmacist to better assist both patients and their healthcare providers in the management of diabetes and the achievement of positive clinical outcomes."
"Applying innovative technology to improve chronic disease management is CONFIDANT's top priority," said Bjorn Nordwall, CONFIDANT's president. "This is an opportunity to use the growing ubiquity of mobile phone technology to empower patients to take control of their health while providing the caregiver better data to improve health care."
About Kerr Drug
Kerr Drug is one of the most recognized and respected names in the chain drug industry. With its roots in the Carolinas and headquarters in Raleigh, Kerr Drug is taking the vision of community pharmacy farther than any other drug chain. The company has placed its future on its unique ability to provide patients, the medical community, and health plan sponsors, access to the most comprehensive and convenient health and wellness offering in the industry. With a mission to be the most comprehensive provider of pharmacy and related health care services, while continuing to be the most reliable provider of health related and convenience items, Kerr is currently providing services that far exceed the traditional drug store mix. For more information, please visit www.kerrdrug.com.
About CONFIDANT
CONFIDANT provides a suite of applications that streamlines information flow in chronic disease management, empowering patients and enhancing communication with care providers. CONFIDANT is the first mobile phone-based chronic disease solution able to communicate with multiple devices to be cleared by the FDA. The solutions enable communication through mobile phones that wirelessly collect information from home medical devices. CONFIDANT’s solutions, initially targeting diabetes and obesity, utilize a flexible architecture that is being applied to a variety of chronic diseases. CONFIDANT enables caregivers to better help patients, resulting in more effective care and reduced costs. CONFIDANT is based in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. For more information, please visit www.confidantinc.com.
Kerr Drug Contact
Diane Eliezer
919-544-3896 x 103
deliezer@kerrdrug.com
CONFIDANT Contact
Thomas Wall
(919) 806-4334
thomas.wall@confidantinc.com
