the best of care 2014 Managing diabetes with the FORA Diamond MINI and tools from Discovery Health Medical Scheme
contents What this document is about This document gives an overview of the FORA Diamond MINI and the benefits of using it. You ll get more information about how to get a meter and how it works to support your diabetes care. You ll also see how to gain even more support in managing your diabetes by consenting to share your recorded data on your Vitality profile and through HealthID. Note: You don t have to be a Vitality member to access the additional tools and support Vitality offers you in overall monitoring of your blood sugar and in managing diabetes. 1
About the FORA Diamond MINI What a glucose meter is and why we use it A glucose meter (or glucometer) is a medical device that helps you determine the approximate concentration of glucose in your blood. Blood glucose monitoring is a key element of managing diabetes. The test is done by placing a small drop of blood, obtained by pricking the skin with a lancet, on a disposable test strip. The meter reads the test strip and gives the blood glucose level in mg/dl or mmol/l. In South Africa, we generally use mmol/l as the measure. In managing diabetes (type 1 and type 2), a primary goal is to have a blood glucose reading of as close to normal as possible for as much of the time as possible. Your healthcare team will let you know the ranges that are required for your personal diabetes care. Regular monitoring and making the necessary adjustments help to reduce the occurrence and severity of short- and long-term diabetes-related complications. About the FORA Diamond MINI and the benefits of telemetric functionality The difference the Bluetooth-enabled glucose meter can make to self-monitoring Currently healthcare providers cannot access recorded blood sugar readings between scheduled appointments. When a person living with diabetes needs help to interpret readings or identify trends, they often have to send glucose readings manually. The FORA Diamond MINI with its telemetric functionality offers a total patient management solution. With immediate data sharing between the meter, a compatible ios or Android device with Bluetooth and electronic patient records, it helps to bridge the gap between self-management and professional healthcare. As someone living with diabetes, you can immediately share readings with your healthcare professional and make any necessary adjustments without delay. Together with HealthID, your Diamond MINI also offers you improved access to your health data and your healthcare team can remotely monitor your readings your recorded data will be available through Discovery HealthID and your Electronic Health Record. The software that comes with your glucose meter accurately collects the data you record in digital format and incorporates it into a digital record that can be transmitted securely. You and those in your healthcare team who you consent to view the data can then easily analyse these records remotely. 2
Your support Supporting your diabetes care with FORA Diamond MINI Background Often, diabetes management systems do not empower those living with diabetes to see trends in their blood glucose readings. This makes it difficult to see what affects blood sugar levels and what adjustments to make without first consulting a healthcare professional. Current methods also do not always allow for timely and accurate analysis by healthcare professionals who may only see patients once every three to six months. Supporting diabetes care When managed, people living with diabetes can lead healthy lives. To support the care of more than 55 000 members of Discovery Health Medical Scheme with diabetes, we are, from 2014, funding specific Bluetooth-enabled glucose meters and promoting the use of smartphone applications and other online tools. The aim is to make self-care more efficient, and to support the doctor-patient relationship. The FORA Diamond MINI is currently the only meter in the range Discovery Health Medical Scheme members can use for this diabetes management support. By using the FORA Diamond MINI glucose meter with the ifora application, Discovery Health Medical Scheme members: Have all the benefits the FORA Diamond MINI offers in diabetes care (For more information, please visit http://www.foracare.ch) Can get an overview of blood glucose readings on Vitality and use other supportive tools Can share recorded data with healthcare providers through HealthID It s as easy as getting the FORA Diamond MINI from the selected providers, setting up the glucose meter and consenting to share your information. You and healthcare providers will have access to information you upload to monitor trends and make any necessary adjustments to support your diabetes care. 3
The benefits of the FORA Diamond MINI The benefits of the FORA Diamond MINI and other tools for your diabetes care The glucose meter sends your readings directly to the ifora application on your smartphone and tablet. The ifora application gives you: Easy-to-use graphics to identify trends in your blood sugar levels The results to your Vitality profile and to HealthID Improved quality of care by logging insulin or medicine doses, physical activity and meal information Easy interpretation of readings to see trends in your blood sugar To access this functionality, you have to register your glucose meter (by serial number) on www.discovery.co.za and consent to showing the details in your Vitality profile as well as give your doctor consent to access your Electronic Health Records through HealthID. The benefits of access to the features of the FORA Diamond MINI and its telemetric technology include: The details recorded with your FORA Diamond MINI and the ifora application will show on your Vitality profile and on HealthID. This will ensure that: Your readings are accessible immediately so that you and your healthcare team can view them. There is no need to spend time recording details in any other format or time needed to download data giving more time to focus on your diabetes care Decisions about your care can be made efficiently and quickly 4
The benefits of the FORA Diamond MINI The benefits of the FORA Diamond MINI and other tools for your diabetes care How viewing your details on your Vitality profile can benefit your diabetes care You don t have to be a Vitality member to access the additional tools and support Vitality offers you in overall monitoring of your blood sugar and in managing diabetes. You ll have access to: Tools to help you get active, eat a balanced, healthy diet and the Diabetes tracker which gives you an overview of blood sugar readings you record with your FORA Diamond MINI Groups for added support, advice and motivation Challenges which you can complete and invite others to complete that encourage regular testing and other activities for improved management and control To create a profile and to find these tools, log in to www.discovery.co.za, hover over the Vitality tab and select Wellness tools under LivingVitality on the drop down menu. About the Diabetes tracker Your blood sugar readings will be uploaded to the Diabetes tracker automatically. With it, you can track your sugar levels daily, weekly or monthly. You ll get valuable information to interpret your readings to see how your blood sugar is affected by what you do, what you eat and everyday life. You can also subscribe to the Diabetes blog by Michael and Vanessa Brown who are both involved at the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology. A wealth of information, expert advice and inspiration for a healthier lifestyle 5
About HealthID HealthID your medical information in your doctor s hands How giving your healthcare team access to your records on HealthID can benefit your care Discovery HealthID is an electronic application that puts all your health records in your doctor s hands. By giving your doctor permission to access your information using HealthID, it can improve the clinical care you receive, because he or she can use HealthID to: Access your medical history Access your Electronic Health Records and daily blood sugar readings Access your benefit information Write online prescriptions and more To benefit from HealthID, your doctor will need your permission to access your health records. You need to give once-off consent to each doctor you visit before they can use HealthID during your consultation. Log in to www.discovery.co.za to give your consent. No unauthorised person will have access to your personal medical information it will be between you and your doctor. 6
Get a FORA Diamond MINI How to get a FORA Diamond MINI and how Discovery Health Medical Scheme funds it Register for the Chronic Illness Benefit and get your meter and strips from a selected supplier If you are registered on the Chronic Illness Benefit for the treatment of diabetes, Discovery Health Medical Scheme will pay for the FORA Diamond MINI and tests strips from your Chronic Illness Benefit. If you are not registered on the Chronic Illness Benefit yet, your doctor can complete a Chronic Illness Benefit application or use the HealthID app. As soon as your cover from the Chronic Illness Benefit is approved, your doctor can give you a script for the FORA Diamond MINI and test strips. Use the script to get your FORA Diamond MINI and test strips through MedXpress or from any Dis-Chem store. About MedXpress MedXpress is a convenient way to order your medicine or medical items on prescriptions that have repeats. There is no additional administration or delivery cost. MedXpress works closely with pharmacy partners to also help reduce co-payments. The service is available nationally and: You have full cover for medicines on the Discovery Health formulary (medicine list). This means you won t have co-payments You won t be charged above the Discovery Health Medicine Rate 7
Order your FORA Diamond MINI through MedXpress How to get a FORA Diamond MINI and how Discovery Health Medical Scheme funds it Order the FORA Diamond MINI through MedXpress Email diamondminiorder@discovery.co.za with your membership number and full name, you will receive a SMS once this request is captured. Then call 0860 99 88 77 (select option 1 and then MedXpress) and confirm your details and delivery address. The order will be delivered within 3 working days. To continue ordering test strips monthly through MedXpress or any other chronic medicine items or repeatable medicine: 1. Email your prescription to medxpress@discovery.co.za or fax to 011 539 1020. Remember to write down MedXpress and your membership number on the prescription 2. You will receive an SMS to call in and place your order. 3. Call MedXpress on 0860 99 88 77 (select option 1 and then option 4 for MedXpress) There are simple methods to re-order your monthly prescription and other items: Log in to the Discovery website and use the MedXpress medicine re-order link. You can also use the Discovery application available for smartphones or Android and Apple devices. If your order has no co-payment you can use SMS re-order. All you need to do is reply with a Yes when you receive the SMS. For more information on MedXpress go to www.discovery.co.za or email medxpressquery@discovery.co.za 8
Getting started Getting started with your FORA Diamond MINI You will need: 1. The FORA Diamond MINI and tests strips 2. An ios or Android device with Bluetooth 3. The ifora app for your device (the app for BlackBerry devices is in development) More information about your FORA Diamond MINI and how it works You can read more about the meter and how it works online at: http://www.foracare.ch/ You ll find the user manual at: http://www.foracare.ch/download/manual/fora- DIAMOND-mini-DM30-Manual.pdf When you are ready to get started 1. Download the ifora app on your cellphone or other device. Once you ve done that, go to FAQ and select Tutorial which explains how the app works. To update the settings: Go to Setting Click on TeleHealth Service URL Select Discovery from the list Set Upload automatically to ON Every time you measure your blood sugar with your meter and use the app on your phone, your data will upload to your Vitality portfolio and to HealthID automatically (if you have given consent). 3. If you have any technical queries on how to get started please contact Altys on 0861 333 038 2. You will have to update the settings on your phone or device to automatically upload and share data you record with your FORA Diamond MINI and the app. 9
Linking your device to Vitality Linking your FORA Diamond MINI to Vitality You can link your meter by: Logging on to www.discovery.co.za Hover over the Vitality tab and select Wellness tools under LivingVitality on the drop down menu Click on Diabetes Tracker and click Manage device(s) Enter the serial number of your Fora Diamond MINI device and click Add device Use the serial number on your meter this will identify your information and agree to share your readings on your Vitality profile and on HealthID. Every time you test, your Vitality profile will be updated automatically. No need for you to manually record your readings. By linking your meter to Vitality, you can map your glucose readings and use the information and additional tools Vitality gives you to help manage your blood sugar. If you ve followed all the instructions and still have difficulty to link your meter or to view your details, contact the support team at info@livingvitality.co.za. When you consent to giving your doctor access to HealthID, these details will show on your Electronic Health Record too. 10
Sharing your data Agreeing to and giving consent to share the data you upload When using the FORA Diamond MINI and the ifora app, you will need to give your consent to share information you record on your Vitality profile for self-care support, as well as with your healthcare providers through HealthID. Consent to sharing the data you collect Discovery Health (Pty) Ltd and the Discovery Group take all reasonable steps to protect personal information and will keep your information confidential. By agreeing to add your meter to your Vitality profile, you consent or agree that Discovery Vitality, Discovery Health (Pty) Ltd and your medical scheme (referred to as we) can process and disclose recorded data you share in the following manner: We may collect, collate, process, store and disclose your data as downloaded from your meter and any information you record or share: For the administration of your benefits, For providing services and relevant information to you, For providing relevant information to a healthcare provider in your Electronic Health Record to provide a healthcare service to you this information will only be shared with healthcare providers you have already given consent to for the disclosure of your health information through Discovery HealthID, and For academic research and development purposes. 11
Sharing your data Agreeing to and giving consent to share the data you upload Period and data consent is valid for Your consent is valid for all data you share from the date that you add the meter to your Vitality profile and consent to HealthID. Consent is valid from the date and time you add your meter and will continue until consent is removed or changed. Your consent will end at the date and time you change or remove consent and will still apply to all data recorded and shared before then. You can revoke your consent You can change or revoke your consent at any time by removing your meter from your profile. By doing this, your information will no longer be shared with your healthcare professional or other parties. The results displayed will reflect the change or removal of consent. If consent is withdrawn entirely, all data shared before the removal of consent will still display and may be used as indicated here. Understanding the terms and conditions By adding your meter, you confirm you have had an opportunity to read (or have read to you) and you fully understand the terms, conditions and consequences of this consent. You agree you are: Aware of all the terms Satisfied that all possible questions about this consent have been answered on your request Communicating with you about these and other services We may communicate with you about any changes to the services you use. We will keep you updated on any offers, benefits or new products you may qualify for. If you do not want to receive any direct marketing information email us at healthinfo@discovery.co.za 12 GM_24388DHC_27/02/2014_V4