Proposing a Practical, Simplified Framework for Implementing Integrated Diabetes Data and Technology Solutions

Abstract

Diabetes is a uniquely quantifiable disease, and as technology and data have proliferated over the past two decades, so have the tools to manage diabetes. Patients and providers have at their disposal devices, applications, and data platforms that generate immense amounts of data, provide critical insights into a patient’s disease, and allow for personalization of treatment plans. However, the proliferation of options also comes with new burdens for providers: selecting the right tool, getting buy-in from leadership, defining the business case, implementation, and maintenance of the new technology. The complexity of these steps can be overwhelming and sometimes lead to inaction, depriving providers and patients of the advantages of technology-assisted diabetes care. Conceptually, the adoption of digital health solutions can be thought of as occurring in five interconnected phases: Needs Assessment, Solution Identification, Integration, Implementation, and Evaluation. There are a number of existing frameworks to help guide much of this process, but relatively little attention has been focused on integration. Integration is a critical phase for a number of contractual, compliance, financial, and technical processes. Missing a step or doing them out of order can lead to significant delays and potentially wasted resources. To address this gap, we have developed a practical, simplified framework for integrating diabetes data and technology solutions that can guide clinicians and clinical leaders on the critical steps in adopting and implementing a new technology.