NEW YORK & BETHESDA, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–MagnaCare, a health
plan management company, announced today its partnership with Bethesda, M.D.-based Telcare, Inc. in order
to provide a unique level of quality care to its clients living with diabetes.
Through this partnership, MagnaCares clients will be among the first in the
country to receive the Telcare BGM®, the first-ever wireless-enabled blood
glucose meter.
The Telcare BGM® automatically transmits readings to an
FDA-cleared, privacy-secured online database that can be accessed via web
browser or smartphone apps by patients, physicians, caregivers or family
members, as authorized by the patient. The Telcare BGM® transmits real-time
access to readings, provides feedback and enables physicians and caregivers to
intervene when blood glucose levels reach dangerous levels.
“The biggest challenge in the treatment of diabetes is
compliance, which, with a ten percent improvement in glucose control, can
reduce the incidence of complications by thirty-seven percent,” says Jonathan
C. Javitt, M.D., MPH, CEO and Vice Chairman, Telcare. “The Telcare BGM® was
developed to eliminate non-compliance and inconsistency in tracking numbers.
Through the simplified dissemination of information that is usable and
functional, this unique technology is truly impactful in terms of connecting
provider to patient.”
The Telcare product represents the first of a new generation
of wireless medical devices, designed to connect people with chronic illness to
caregivers. The result of a partnership between Telcare, and Qualcomm, Inc.,
manufacturer of many of the internal components of todays cell phones, the
product is being launched this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where it is
ranked as one of the semi-finalists in the famous “Last Gadget Standing”
competition. In a review of the Telcare product in the Wall Street Journal,
Walt Mossberg called it “a significant step towards bringing consumer medical
devices closer to the world of modern technology.”
Joseph Berardo Jr., CEO and president of MagnaCare says,
“The critical aspect of this product for many of MagnaCares clients is that it
offers an opportunity to connect patients with loved ones. For the first time,
the parent of a school-age child with diabetes can be informed of every blood
sugar level — or those out of range — on his or her cell phone.”
The Telcare BGM® is paired with Telcares back-end clinical
server and a suite of smartphone apps designed to provide comprehensive access
to care. The server connects directly to electronic medical record systems,
while the phone apps are used by family members.
Berardo adds, “This partnership represents MagnaCares
commitment to utilizing cutting-edge technology and empowering patients to be
more proactive in their own care, while supporting physicians with meaningful
information that enables them to generate better outcomes, prevent
complications and participate in care management that mitigates costly
treatments or hospitalizations.”
About Telcare
Telcare developed the first-ever blood glucose meter, the FDA-approved Telcare
BGM, that automatically and wirelessly transmits glucose readings to a private
online database that can be accessed by the patient, physician, caregiver or
family member. Co-founded by Dr. Jonathan C. Javitt, a former healthcare
advisor in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations, and founder of four
publicly-traded health IT companies, Telcare relies on award-winning cellular
machine-2-machine technology to bridge the gap between patients and their
caregivers in order to improve care. Visit http://telcare.com.
About MagnaCare
MagnaCare, a health plan management company, is proactively reducing the cost
of healthcare by offering self-funding options for employers of every size – as
few as 15 employees in N.J. and 50 in N.Y. For more than 20 years MagnaCare has
served commercial insurers such as health, workers compensation, or no fault,
TPAs, government entities, and labor markets. MagnaCare offers access to a
broad provider network, predictive modeling analyses, member outreach programs
or an integrated solution that includes full plan management services. Services
include claims adjudication, eligibility management, client/customer service,
and a full suite of products. MagnaCare was selected to the esteemed “Modern
Healthcares 2010 and 2011 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.” Visit www.magnacare.com, www.facebook.com/magnacare, http://www.twitter.com/magnacare, http://blog.magnacare.com.
Posted by Sean Fenske, Editor-in-Chief, MDT
