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Medtronic launches game-based patient engagement program
Medtronic launched a U.S. version of its Inner CircleSM patient engagement program, a gamified app designed to motivate and encourage people living with diabetes to achieve better health outcomes, according to a press release from the company.
The program will be offered to eligible people who are using the MiniMed 670G — commonly known as the artificial pancreas — and the Guardian Connect smart continuous glucose monitoring system.
"Diabetes is unrelenting, and we are committed to innovating in new ways — beyond technology — to provide inspiration, motivation and education to help people with diabetes on their journey to better health," Louis Dias, chief patient officer, diabetes group, Medtronic, said in the release. "As the leader in patient-centric care, we are working to enhance patients' lives through the Medtronic Inner Circle program, which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing new and innovative offerings to people living with diabetes."
The program uses gamification principles to encourage behavior changes that help users achieve better outcomes, with a focus on increased time in range, and offers personalized challenges geared at driving better health outcomes along with a community forum, allowing members to track their own progress with that other others.
"Our new therapies — such as the MiniMed 670G system — can help increase time in range and reduce hypoglycemic events," Francine Kaufman, MD, chief medical officer, diabetes group at Medtronic, said in the release. "This novel and innovative program gives patients tools and challenges them to improve their diabetes management and spend more time in range."
Medtronic created the program to address unmet patient needs after learning that 88% of artificial pancreas users expressed interest in a program that could help them more effectively manage their diabetes and therapy experience.
In findings from two recent surveys conducted by The Harris Poll and reported by Endocrine Today, data showed most endocrinologists and adults with type 1 diabetes want more options to help them better manage the disease, even as new advances continue to change the disease landscape, according to a summary of the survey data released by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Additionally, 32% of endocrinologists reported that the hybrid closed-loop system could have the greatest potential for positive impact on patients with type 1 diabetes, yet 28% of respondents with the disease did not report knowledge about that advancement, according to the survey results.
For more information, visit www.medtronicdiabetes.com. – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: Kaufman reports she is chief medical officer, diabetes group at Medtronic.