Category: Service

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ADA 2019: Bridging the Gap With Point-of-Care Solutions

Attended by a global audience of roughly 18,000, The American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions is the largest and arguably one of the most renowned events in the field of diabetes management.

The conference provides a platform for the world’s leading scientists and medical professionals to come together and share their latest findings on diabetes and associated comorbidities.

We were privileged to bring a team of specialists that educated attendees on the benefits of point-of-care A1C and lipid testing via our CardioChek® analyzers and A1CNow®+ systems. These benefits may include, but are not limited to:

  • Real-time results
  • Maximized patient and provider engagement
  • Improved patient and provider satisfaction
  • Cost containment and office efficiency
    • Research supporting these claims can be found in our new and exclusive whitepaper, “PTS Diagnostics A1CNow®+: A Valuable Tool in a Value-Based World.”

    By offering on-site product demonstrations, we were able to provide personalized lipid panel and A1C readings to more than 450 individuals! Those wishing to learn more about interpreting their results are encouraged to visit our target ranges landing page.

    In addition to showcasing our point-of-care product lines, connectivity experts were on-site to educate attendees about our new PreVantageTM brand. This customizable suite of solutions was developed as a population health management tool that assists with reimbursement and compliance in the value-based healthcare model.

    Overall, the connections made and insights gained at #ADA2019 were invaluable. One important takeaway from the sessions that is also touted by our organization is the fact that diabetes does not occur in a vacuum – meaning that an individual with prediabetes or diabetes is much more likely to develop, or already have, comorbidities such as heart disease, NASH, or diabetic kidney disease. By recognizing the connection between diabetes and other ailments, we can potentially expand upon the locations where A1C is typically tested in order to reach at-risk populations sooner.

    We’ll use the takeaways gathered at this event to continue to grow and thrive as a global point-of-care solutions provider. We hope that you’ll join us next year in Chicago for the American Diabetes Association’s 80th Scientific Sessions!

    Kelley McClain | Senior Marketing Manager 

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    PreVantage: Solutions for Outcome-Based Healthcare

    Healthcare’s standard “fee-for-service” model provides compensation based on the quantity and complexity of services provided. However, rising medical costs and the intricacies of healthcare delivery has caused the industry to think outside of the box.

    Enter value-based payment models.

    The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) rewards providers based upon the value of services provided instead of the volume. In laymen’s terms, healthcare systems are now being heavily rewarded (or penalized!) for the efficiency of care – think measurable and positive patient outcomes – instead of the number of tests and treatments provided.

    As of January 2019, the payment bonus or penalty has increased to +/- seven percent and the stakes are set to intensify even more next year when the penalty or incentive jumps to nine percent. With so much on the line, it’s essential that healthcare organizations transition smoothly into the world of value-based care.

    Our existing suite of point-of-care products is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of this new age healthcare model. Fingerstick testing eliminates the need for cumbersome laboratory analysis and can provide results in minutes instead of days. These quick results may help physicians to accomplish more with each patient visit. Moreover, the risk of a patient’s health worsening between testing and results is potentially decreased.

    We recently made the organizational decision to prioritize solutions that help healthcare providers to succeed in this world of value-based payment models. Consequently, the PreVantage brand was born.

    PreVantage is a suite of products, strategies, and partnerships created to improve patient and provider satisfaction, increase efficiency, lower costs, and maximize reimbursements while helping healthcare providers inspire patients to live healthier, happier lives.

    Simply put, it’s a customized, subscription-based solution that assists the healthcare industry with maximizing reimbursement.

    Extensive research and firsthand conversations with healthcare thought leaders have led to nuanced collaborations with Rimidi and eTrueNorth, the first of numerous PreVantage partnerships.

    Powered by Rimidi, PreVantage ConnectedCareTM allows for enhanced patient monitoring and coaching through the use of unique digital dashboards for both patients and providers. Unlike many other freestanding chronic disease management platforms, it works seamlessly into the physician or care team’s workflow, integrating directly with providers’ Electronic Health Records.

    Powered by eTrueNorth, PreVantage ConnectedQCTM assists users of PTS Diagnostics’ solutions in managing their quality control requirements in a manner consistent with regulatory standards. PreVantage customers are also granted preferred access to eTrueNorth’s eQC suite of policy and procedure and regulatory requirement management programs.

    The launch of PreVantage has just begun and we’re excited to shift from strictly a product-based company into a solutions provider that is uniquely positioned within the value-based payment environment!

    Are you interested in learning more about how the PreVantage suite of solutions helps to eliminate gaps in care? Connect with a PTS Diagnostics sales rep today and follow us on LinkedIn for periodic updates regarding PreVantage and merit-based incentivization.

    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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    PTS Diagnostics Takes Center Stage at AADE 2018

    We’re thrilled to have recently attended the American Association of Diabetes Educator’s annual conference in Baltimore.

    AADE 2018 is the United States’ premier diabetes event targeted to health educators and healthcare professionals, i.e., nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, exercise specialists, etc. The conference focuses on continuing diabetes education credit opportunities while intertwining expert research presentations sharing the latest technological advancements and emerging diabetes treatment trends.

    One takeaway from the gathering was that diabetes educators’ roles are expanding into multiple phases of treatment and prevention. From diagnosis to education, emotional support, nutrition, exercise and more, the role of an educator is a crucial, yet often overlooked aspect of diabetes management.

    A large emphasis that came from the session was a focus on driving better outcomes for people with diabetes by embracing education as a front-line treatment option. Additionally, a shift is occurring among diabetes educators in that there is an increased focus on helping to self-educate individuals living with diabetes and cardiovascular issues, a push driven by the value-based care model. This indicates that there is an expanding need for point-of-care solutions that can support self-management programs and incentives.

    On the show floor, PTS Diagnostics conducted hundreds of point-of-care product demonstrations at our booth showcasing our A1CNow®+ and CardioChek® Plus systems. With results in five minutes, the A1CNow system offers healthcare providers a fast and easy way of obtaining accurate HbA1c results via fingerstick. Likewise, the CardioChek Plus accurately tests a full lipid panel and glucose simultaneously in 90 seconds via fingerstick.

    The speed at which these measurements are delivered allows for the majority of the time spent during a physician visit to be spent having meaningful diabetes and cardiovascular care conversations with patients. What we learned from the healthcare professionals who stopped by our booth is that they are seeking opportunities for face-to-face “coachable moments” with patients as it’s an important, yet often overlooked, step in the disease management and education process.

    Overall, we were ecstatic to have experienced another AADE annual conference and are already counting down the days until next year’s event in Houston! 

    Kelley McClain | Manager, Marketing Communications

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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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    PTS Diagnostics Exhibits Point-of-Care Solutions at ADA 2018

    ​Our team recently had the pleasure of attending the American Diabetes Association’s 78th Scientific Sessions in Orlando. This five-day event was attended by more than 16,000 researchers and healthcare professionals from around the world, making this a unique opportunity to learn about and share significant advances in diabetes research, treatment, and care.PTS Diagnostics was honored to participate through both an exhibitor booth space and a poster presentation titled, “Point-of-Care HbA1C: A Case for Diabetes Screening and Diagnosis.” This poster presentation was on display throughout the event and used clinical research to advocate for the use of our A1CNow®+ system and other similar analyzers in the screening or diagnosis of people with diabetes.

    This poster presentation will be available on our website for download in the coming weeks.

    At our booth, the focus was on our CardioChek® analyzer (Lipid + eGLU®) and A1CNow®+ system as we successfully demonstrated each product to 400+ attendees and experienced constant foot traffic. The trade floor was abuzz about our point-of-care solutions and we relished the opportunity to connect these solutions with the PTS Diagnostics brand.

    Overall, we were thrilled to have experienced our 5th ADA in 2018 and are already looking forward to the 2019 American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions in San Francisco!

    Carrie Szablowski | Director of Global Clinical and Technical Support