Geisinger Health System is one of 11 integrated health systems that has taken part in the largest private sector diabetes database study in the country to develop better ways to prevent people from developing the disease, according to a statement from Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research.
Between them the health systems have 1.1 million members with diabetes included in the database. They have combined de-identified data from their electronic health records to improve the treatment of patients with the chronic disease and develop better ways to prevent people from developing it.
The database was described in an article in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s journal, Preventing Chronic Diseases.
Diabetes-related health improvements achieved from self-management education interventions are not sustained long term.
The SUPREME-DM DataLink will provide a resource for researchers to carry out clinical trials and population-based diabetes research.
“The DataLink will allow us to compare more prevention and treatment strategies with a larger group of patients, which will ultimately prevent more people from getting the disease and improve care for the 25 million Americans who already have it,” said Dr. Greg Nichols, the lead study author and senior investigator with the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Oregon.
In addition to Geisinger and Kaiser Permanente (including its regional health systems), other groups taking part in the database include Group Health Cooperative, HealthPartners, Henry Ford Health System and Marshfield Clinic representing 10 states including Pennsylvania, Minnesota, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin.
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The DataLink includes test results, prescription records, hospital and clinic visit information, and statistics. Thirty-three diabetes researchers are participating in the study. The study criteria for diabetes, which included a single diagnosis of diabetes in the hospital or two separate diagnoses made as an outpatient setting; two elevated blood glucose tests conducted on separate occasions; or at least one diabetes drug dispense, according to the statement.
About 18.8 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with diabetes, according to CDC estimates. It believes another 7 million more have the disease but have not been diagnosed.
