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Impacting Underserved Populations at the Point of Care

In today’s hustle and bustle society, it’s easy to become so encapsulated in day-to-day life that we fail to think globally. I’m fortunate that my role at PTS Diagnostics allows me to escape my personal ‘bubble’ and experience firsthand the global impact that our point-of-care technology makes.

One such unforgettable experience occurred in the remote town of Santo Amaro do Maranhão in northern Brazil. The town is home to about 4,000 residents, many of whom don’t have regular access to healthcare and may drive 5+ hours to the city of São Luís just to obtain it. Needless to say, time and money prevent many from making the trip unless it’s imperative.

Through a partnership with our regional distributor, NL Diagnostica, we worked with the town’s mayor and members of the local government to organize a health event using our A1CNow®+ system. These are fantastic analyzers for such events because they provide accurate HbA1c results in minutes with just a simple fingerstick.

It was an enormous success. We tested 115 residents between the ages of 7 – 87 and identified numerous individuals who were unaware that their results fell into prediabetic and diabetic ranges. They were then directed to physicians who can help to develop and implement personalized treatment plans, potentially altering the course of these individuals’ lives.

Similarly, another recent health event in Mato Grosso, Brazil used our analyzers to test 160 individuals and identified 43 of these individuals whose results fell in ranges that may signify prediabetes or diabetes.

The importance of programs like this cannot be understated. Diabetes, heart disease, and their associated comorbidities are an international epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, the global prevalence of diabetes among adults has risen from 4.7 percent in 1980 to 8.5 percent in 2014 and it rises at a much higher rate in middle and low-income countries. Grassroots initiatives such as the events in Santo Amaro do Maranhão and Mato Grosso help to reach the underserved communities that need point-of-care testing and healthcare support the most.

PTS Diagnostics is currently represented in 135 countries and we’re increasing our commitment to international events in 2018. Other global health events on the calendar for the remainder of the year include locations in South America, Europe, and numerous global trade shows and industry meetings.

Interested in learning more about the global impact of our point-of-care analyzers connect with a PTS Diagnostics sales rep and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook for periodic updates. 

David Brandt | Senior Director, International Distribution

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Using Point-of-Care Testing and Compliance to Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

A heart attack occurs every 40 seconds and heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a reality that I know all too well – just last year, I went into cardiac arrest without warning. I owe my life to the heroic efforts of my son, a former Special Forces Army medic who assisted me until the paramedics arrived, as well as the medical team at Baylor Medical Center-Dallas who successfully completed my heart transplant.

I’m thankful to have the opportunity to continue my career as Medical Director of PTS Diagnostics and to help improve the lives of those suffering from comorbidities such as diabetes and heart disease.

This personal experience further ignited my passion for helping to curb our nation’s heart disease epidemic. Unfortunately, it’s my professional opinion that the prevalence of heart disease will continue to grow. This is due to an aging population and busy lifestyles that cause millions to forgo physical activity, regular doctor’s visits and healthy food options, as their health declines.

These regular doctor’s visits, termed ‘compliance,’ are an often-overlooked issue when caring for patients with or at risk of heart disease. If a doctor sends a patient to a laboratory, there’s a chance they may forget to go or opt not to because traditional laboratory tests can be time-consuming and intrusive. Moreover, if a patient takes an intravenous test onsite, results often take days to come back and the doctor may have trouble reconnecting with the patient to share them. This disconnect in the testing process costs many people time that they really don’t have in terms of reducing the risks of further complications if heart disease is present.

Emergent technologies, such as point-of-care testing, can slow this trend and reduce the spread of heart disease by providing timely results and reducing treatment gaps.

In the past, patients had to fast for 8 – 12 hours before a blood test. Now, non-fasting lipid panels (cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides) and fingerstick blood glucose control can be performed via A1C testing for the greater convenience of the patient. The sooner that a doctor can identify a potential heart issue, the earlier treatment can begin. Our CardioChek® product line is CLIA-waived, meets NCEP guidelines for accuracy and precision, and delivers a full lipid panel in as little as 90 seconds.

The ability to walk into a clinic, pharmacy, or physician’s office and leave with test results and a plan for care has the potential to take a huge burden off of our healthcare system. It’s my hope that the healthcare workers on the front end of our nation’s heart health epidemic will take steps to incorporate point-of-care technology into their treatment plans.

For more information about heart health and how PTS Diagnostics is innovating point-of-care testing, stay tuned to our social media channels and check out resources such as the CDC or the American Heart Association.

Dr. James H. Anderson | Medical Director
Dr. Anderson trained in Internal Medicine and specializes in Endocrinology. He has 35 years of clinical and research experience, including Interim CEO at Antigen Express, Inc.; Director and Senior Scientific Advisor of Generex Biotechnology Corporation; CEO and President of Symcopeia Company; Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine; and Senior Medical Director for Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Medicine at Eli Lilly and Company. Fellowships include the American College of Endocrinology and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (UK). Dr. Anderson has degrees from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, and Centenary College of Louisiana. 

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PTS Diagnostics Turns 25: A Quarter-Century Commitment to Point-of-Care Solutions

Looking back, it’s hard to believe that I’ve called PTS Diagnostics home for 10 years – joining our family in 2007 in a domestic sales capacity before making the transition to global sales, then Chief Commercial Officer earlier this year. It’s even more humbling to comprehend that for 25 years, PTS Diagnostics has been offering innovative and affordable point-of-care solutions impacting those living with chronic diseases.

As we charge into 2018, it behooves us to reflect upon the people and organizations that have played a role in our growth and success the last quarter-century.

PTS Diagnostics’ Mission and Growth
PTS Diagnostics was founded on the premise that testing for more than just glucose could be a quick, accurate and relatively inexpensive process. It was our vision, dating back to 1992, to expand point-of-care capabilities and bring testing to health fairs, physician’s offices and consumer’s homes. Little did we know that that this ambitious, yet relatively simple concept would change the world over the next 25 years.

Any type of “disruptive” technology encounters resistance in its infancy phase. Initially, central labs and pathologists were very skeptical of point-of-care technologies principally due to accuracy concerns. As such, they forced the device manufacturers to up the ante as it relates to the quality of results and conformity to quality control compliance standards. Fast forward to 2017 when many point-of-care test results are indistinguishable from central lab results and are even relied upon to drive merit-based healthcare incentives.

One of our biggest challenges has been the ability to cling to our core Midwestern values while scaling the business globally in accordance with growing demand for PTS Diagnostics’ solutions. This is a mission that Bob Huffstodt, our President and CEO, and our entire leadership team is committed to and cognizant of, even as we grow at rates that are four times the industry average.

Our Place in Global Point-of-Care Diagnostics
We have grown from being “The Little Engine that Could” to a global force on the point-of-care diabetes and cardiovascular disease stage. There are many times when I step back and have to take a deep breath understanding the responsibility that goes along with our role in the global healthcare market.

With the advantage of a quick turnaround time and immediate coachable moments serving as discernable benefits, I would challenge the healthcare system to operate effectively and efficiently without point-of-care solutions. Think patient satisfaction, provider satisfaction, population health management and health outcomes, and try to do that without point-of-care solutions; I don’t think it can be done and that to me is why we’re poised to help solve major healthcare problems.

Recent Successes
It is a great time to be working at PTS Diagnostics. Our overall growth continues at such a pace that we are planning to build a new global headquarters in Indianapolis, which will open in 2019, and position us well for the foreseeable future. We have very ambitious growth plans for not only our core products, but a number of promising R&D and business development initiatives. We also continue to enjoy the support of our parent company, Sinocare, who has been a great partner since acquiring PTS Diagnostics in 2016. They are very committed to our mission and our people.

Our footprint and overall business presentation have evolved significantly over just the past 10 years, and we have increased automation and office space as the business has grown. Our thriving Sunnyvale location was added in late 2013 when we acquired the A1C Now® product line from Bayer. Shortly, we will be announcing a new retail point-of-care software and a new portable data capture system for screening professionals that are poised to craft a niche in the growing field of population health.

In our line of work, success equals transformation of healthcare and access for traditionally underserved or critically at-risk patients. Therefore, I’m exceptionally proud of the projects that we are working on with the World Health Organization in Africa, National Diabetes Prevention Program in the UK, Discovery Health in South Africa and the Federal Government in Mexico. These are truly transformational and impact the health of entire sub-populations. I get excited when we open up new vertical markets in the U.S. and around the world because that to me equals access, which ultimately equals positive change.

Invaluable Customers and Distribution Partners
The main reason that we are who we are today is that we have always listened to our customers and our distribution partners.

I encourage customers to embrace this commitment and to continue to let us know what they need and what the market needs to help control and manage the chronic diseases that we help to identify and manage every day. Above all, know that we appreciate our partners, the patients and the responsibility of what we do, and are thankful for being a small part of making the world a better place.

Employee Values
PTS Diagnostics is a company that has more than once been told that what we are trying to do is impossible. Whether it be ambitious product improvements, daunting shipping deadlines for massive tenders or bringing a new high-quality product to market in record time. This company ALWAYS delivers. We work evenings, weekends, holidays, whatever it takes to get the job done and that is a true badge of honor, especially given the Midwestern roots of many of our employees.

When we acquired the Sunnyvale operation in 2013, I did not know what to expect. Yet, I have to say I have been blown away as they share the same values and work ethic as the Indy team and the global sales teams. I really think the “PTS Diagnostics-way” is contagious within our organization and for that, I really can just thank everyone as this team is the best in the business top to bottom.

Positioning for Future Milestones
Factors within the global marketplace such as where testing is accessed and how it is paid for change rapidly, making it important to be flexible and staying ahead of the curve, given that we transact in more than 140 countries.

Additionally, we must innovate, not only due to competitive forces but to meet the needs of a world that necessitates better access to technology. Highly accurate, non-refrigerated, stable platforms which require minimal pre-analytical interaction and can be delivered in a cost-effective manner are paramount in the world in which we live. We need broader menus and ability to transmit results to a plethora of data capture tools that exist today and are being developed for the future. The to-do list is staggering, but that is why this industry is a blast to be a part of.

A Sincere Thank You
From the bottom of my heart, I’d like to say thank you to ever
yone who has made our success possible, and who dedicates themselves to ensuring that those suffering from chronic conditions receive the quality and efficiency of care that they deserve. It’s important that we remember the real-world impact that our company has and use this as motivation to continue to grow, innovate and revolutionize our industry over the next 25 years.

Stephen Riendeau | Chief Commercial Officer

Mr. Riendeau joined the PTS Diagnostics in 2007 after 17 years of industry-wide sales experience with Specialty Laboratories, Inc., Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Orca Medical Systems, and Abbott Laboratories, Inc. His professional experience prior to PTS Diagnostics included the servicing of individual accounts, territory management, field sales management, and executive direction of corporate accounts. He has overall responsibility for PTS Diagnostics’ global sales in all healthcare segments, sales distribution, and the development and execution of the company’s strategic sales plan. Mr. Riendeau received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Florida State University.

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Why Pharmacies Should Offer Point-of-Care A1C Testing for Customers

As a longtime diabetes advocate and the current Medical Director at PTS Diagnostics, I’d like to discuss a controversial topic which I’m particularly passionate about. The importance of pharmacies expanding their services, where allowed by law, in order to help all clientele, improve their quality of life through chronic disease management.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of adults with diabetes has more than tripled over the past 20 years. Early detection of at-risk individuals is needed to slow and ultimately reverse this alarming trend that’s bordering on a national health crisis. Expanding point-of-care testing in pharmacies is an important step to managing health.

There are several factors that magnify the importance of expanding point-of-care testing, the most relevant of which are convenience and overcrowding of physician’s offices. According to a study from Merrit Hawkins, the average wait time to schedule an appointment with a primary care physician is upwards of 24 days. To make matters worse, it can often take weeks to obtain results from lab tests scheduled by the physician, leaving too much time between a patient’s initial visit and the follow-up consultation.

This is where point-of-care testing thrives and why it must find a niche outside of physicians’ offices. Many pharmacies can’t afford or don’t have room for the same type of high-end testing equipment as professional laboratories and hospitals, but standard point-of-care medical devices are affordable, offer results in minutes, and are able to accurately measure important markers such as A1C, glucose, lipid levels and more.

I believe that all pharmacies, where allowed by law, should expand their point-of-care testing from reimbursable offerings such as flu and strep testing to A1C and other wellness tests. By opening up these testing options to more people and allowing them to see their results sooner, pharmacists can help diabetics to better manage their health.

The development of complications from Type 2 diabetes occurs over an extended period of time. It often takes eight to 10 years before a patient is clinically diagnosed. By that time, nerve and blood vessel damage from undiagnosed diabetes has already occurred. Successful care of diabetes requires the combined work of the patient and the health care team; with pharmacists serving as essential members of this team.
So, what type of point-of-care testing is best for pharmacies? All markers are relevant, but A1C testing has a slight edge because it reflects what the patient’s glucose levels have been over an extended period, and it doesn’t require fasting, which often leads to patient non-compliance and inaccurate results. A1C results offer a great deal of important insights into health risks – a topic that I’ve previously written on in Repertoire Magazine.

It’s also important to remember that diabetes is a disease not only of glucose, but also of blood lipids, which makes knowing and controlling blood lipids a major part of diabetes care. Unlike glucometers, devices like the CardioChek Plus® can provide a more complete picture of metabolic control by measuring both glucose and lipids at the point of care. Counseling and adjustment of therapy can then take place at the next clinical visit.

Once pharmacies run point-of-care tests relative to diabetes, they also need to play an active role in diabetes education. Education is key in pharmacies and beyond. People should be aware that the two factors that will make a difference in diabetes prevention and management are regular exercise and healthy eating, specifically monitoring caloric intake. Genetics might be an essential risk factor, but it can absolutely be overcome.

Combining point-of-care testing and pharmacies, where laws allow, is beneficial for all involved and can be an impactful first step towards in reducing the national diabetes rate. All distributors and pharmacies should contact PTS Diagnostics to learn more about how our point-of-care solutions are improving lives by assisting with disease management.

Dr. James H. Anderson | Medical Director

Dr. Anderson trained in Internal Medicine and specializes in Endocrinology. He has 35 years of clinical and research experience, including Interim CEO at Antigen Express, Inc.; Director and Senior Scientific Advisor of Generex Biotechnology Corporation; CEO and President of Symcopeia Company; Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine; and Senior Medical Director for Diabetes and Cardiometabolic Medicine at Eli Lilly and Company. Fellowships include the American College of Endocrinology and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians (UK). Dr. Anderson has degrees from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, and Centenary College of Louisiana.

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The Importance of Proficiency Testing

​It’s rewarding to work for a comprehensive point-of-care diagnostics company that designs and manufactures products used for testing cardiovascular heart disease, diabetes and more. Anyone who’s ever been impacted by these diseases knows how important fast and accurate test results are. Accurate results aid in physician decisions and in many cases can provide peace of mind for those undergoing routine laboratory testing.

Healthcare providers in 135 countries trust the CardioChek® and A1CNOW® to help in diagnosing and treating patients at the point-of-care. Ensuring that these analyzers perform and produce quality results is a top priority. One of the most important aspects to my role as Director of Clinical Laboratory Medicine is to give our customers confidence in our analyzers and results.

​Verifying that our technology works correctly can identify potential testing issues. Proficiency testing is a part of a quality assurance program that reassures the accurate performance of our products. It’s an effective tool because it not only tests our analyzers, but the testing process itself. Even though it’s not required in most states, we encourage all of our customers to pursue proficiency testing through American Proficiency Institute. This third-party proficiency testing program provides an extra boost of confidence in PTS Diagnostic’s analyzers and their results to patients and physicians.

All of our analyzers are eligible for proficiency testing. The biggest takeaway that I want to leave with decision makers at medical facilities is that proficiency testing is just one more arrow in your quiver. It gives confidence in the ability of a test system to provide quality results and can help to proactively identify any potential issues that could be seen down the road. This is why I believe proficiency testing is an important quality assurance tool for our A1CNOW+ and CardioChek systems.

I encourage anyone with questions about beginning this process to connect with us to learn more about PTS Diagnostics. 

Carrie Szablowski | Director of Clinical Laboratory Medicine