Benefits of Information Technology-Enabled Diabetes Management

Abstract

Objective: To determine the financial and clinical benefits of implementing information technology enabled disease management systems.

Research Design and Methods: A computer model was created to project the impact of information technology enabled disease management on care processes, clinical outcomes and medical costs for patients with type 2 diabetes over the age of 25 in the United States. Several information technologies were modeled: diabetes registries, computerized decision support, remote monitoring, patient self-management systems and payer based systems. Estimates of care process improvements were derived from published literature. Simulations projected outcomes for both payer and provider organizations, scaled to the national level. The primary outcome was medical cost savings, in 2004 U.S. dollars discounted at 5%. Secondary measures include reduction of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy clinical outcomes.

Results: All forms of information technology enabled disease management improved the health of patients with diabetes and reduced health care expenditures. Over ten years, diabetic registries saved $14.5 billion, computerized decision support saved $10.7 billion, payer-centered technologies saved $7.10 billion, remote monitoring saved $326 million, self-management saved $285 million, and integrated provider-patient systems saved $16.9 billion.

Conclusions: Information technology enabled diabetes management has the potential to improve care processes, delay diabetic complications and save healthcare dollars. Of existing systems, provider-centered technologies such as diabetes registries currently show the most potential for benefit. Fully integrated provider-patient systems would have even greater potential for benefit. These benefits must be weighed against the implementation costs.