NEW ORLEANS, June 10, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Diabetes Association (Association) today announced the acquisition of Intelligent Medical Decisions, Inc. (iMD). The Association and iMD have collaborated for the past five years to design and deliver Diabetes INSIDE—a quality improvement initiative that has improved diabetes care processes and health outcomes for people living with diabetes at large, diverse health systems across the country.
Diabetes INSIDE combines quality improvement science, tools and techniques with population health analytics and data-driven education to drive measureable and transformative change within clinical systems. As part of the agreement, the Association will hire all iMD personnel and acquire all its assets.
"The American Diabetes Association is committed to advancing health care excellence so that people living with diabetes have access to quality care that can lead to better outcomes," said Kevin L. Hagan, CEO of the Association. "With this acquisition, the Association looks forward to building the national scale of the Diabetes INSIDE program to provide greater support to a myriad of partners—including large-scale health systems, community-based physician practices and diabetes educators—seeking new ways to improve population health outcomes and reduce costs of care."
By restructuring interventions and empowering patients with diabetes with more personalized resources and sustainable education, Diabetes INSIDE has already achieved demonstrable successes at health systems across the country. The program's interventions are all based on the Association's Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, which are updated annually and provide clinicians, patients, researchers, payers and other interested individuals with the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and tools to evaluate the quality of care. Data outcomes show enhanced patient engagement, reduced A1Cs and improvements in population-level blood sugar control. In 2015 and 2016, the Association and iMD received awards for Diabetes INSIDE from the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions.
"Joining forces with the American Diabetes Association to improve the U.S. health care delivery system is extremely exciting for us and incredibly timely," said Gregory Liptak, former president of iMD who will assume the new role of Vice President, Quality Improvement Services at the Association. "There has never been better alignment with national health care priorities, the Association's mission and the need to redesign systems of care to better manage chronic diseases like diabetes. Combining our quality improvement services with the Association's resources, vision and voice will effect sustainable changes that improve the lives of millions of patients affected by diabetes while advancing the National Quality Strategy."
For more than 75 years, the Association has demonstrated a consistent, comprehensive approach to driving advancements in research, stimulating advocacy, enhancing total wellness and advancing health care excellence for people living with diabetes and those who are at risk by investing in key initiatives and partners who are well-aligned with the Association's mission.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to Stop Diabetes® and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Join the Scientific Sessions conversation using #2016ADA and follow us year-round on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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SOURCE American Diabetes Association
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