MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Matthew J. Crowley, MD
Core Investigator, Durham Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT)
Affiliated Investigator, VA Office of Rural Health
Staff Physician, Endocrinology Section, Durham VA Health Care System
Elizabeth Kobe, BS
Medical Student
Durham VA Health Care System
Duke University School of Medicine
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? With whom were the telehealth sessions performed? (MDs, PAs, Dieticians etc).
Response: Diabetes management in rural populations is especially challenging due to limited access to specialty care and self-management programs. Telehealth is a potential strategy for extending high-quality diabetes care to rural areas. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has a robust Home Telehealth (HT) system that is currently used for telemonitoring patient blood glucose values. In order to address the challenges of managing diabetes in rural areas in a clinically feasible manner, we strategically designed an intensive diabetes management intervention – Advanced Comprehensive Diabetes Care (ACDC) – for delivery using existing VHA HT infrastructure and clinical staffing. ACDC is a 6-month telehealth intervention that combines telemonitoring with module-based self-management support and medication management.
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