Why should Government Partner with Fit4D?

To address the global burden of diabetes & current challenges facing Government:

A diabetes epidemic is underway, and as a consequence almost everyone knows someone who has diabetes.

• An estimated 30 million people worldwide had diabetes in 1985.
• A decade later, the global burden of diabetes was estimated to be 135 million.
• By the end of 2010, an estimated 285 million people, corresponding to 6.4% of the world's adult population, will live with diabetes.
• The number is expected to grow to 438 million by 2030, corresponding to 7.8% of the adult population. (Source: IDF, Diabetes Atlas, 4th edition)

In the United States alone, an estimated 23.6 million people—7.8 percent of the population—have diabetes, which is a lifelong condition. Of those, 17.9 million have been diagnosed, and 5.7 million have not yet been diagnosed. In 2007, about 1.6 million people ages 20 or older were diagnosed with diabetes. (National Diabetes Statistics, 2007)

The Human Impact

Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. In 2006, it was the seventh leading cause of death. However, diabetes is likely to be underreported as the underlying cause of death on death certificates. In 2004, among people ages 65 years or older, heart disease was noted on 68 percent of diabetes-related death certificates; stroke was noted on 16 percent of diabetes-related death certificates for the same age group.

Diabetes is associated with long-term complications that affect almost every part of the body. The disease often leads to blindness, heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney failure, amputations, and nerve damage. Uncontrolled diabetes can complicate pregnancy, and birth defects are more common in babies born to women with diabetes.

The Financial Impact

In 2007, diabetes cost the United States $174 billion. Indirect costs, including disability payments, time lost from work, and reduced productivity, totaled $58 billion. Direct medical costs for diabetes care, including hospitalizations, medical care, and treatment supplies, totaled $116 billion.

Among many initiatives, local, state & federal governments are investing millions of dollars to support construction and renovation of spaces that allow for more efficient coordination of care for patients with diabetes and other chronic diseases. But what good is "space & facilities" if you don't have an effective knowledge program to educate a population at risk? If the numbers presented are staggering, consider that in the United States 57 million people have pre-diabetes right now, many of whom will soon develop diabetes.

It's a Knowledge Economy

Studies have indicated that the lack of diabetes education was responsible for up to 33% of patients who did not maintain appropriate levels of medication. With factors such lacking motivational strategies of individuals with diabetes, patient's perceptions of factors affecting adherence to dietary regimens for Diabetes Mellitus & situational obstacles to adherence for adolescents with Diabetes, it is clear that in order to successfully drive greater patient activation and retention to its solutions, on its own the Pharmaceutical industry's business model of today must change to one that fully embraces collaboration.

To leverage the Fit4D Added Value Proposition:

Fit4D is focused on helping to improve the following health outcomes:

• Lower A1C
• Lower blood pressure
• Lower LDL cholesterol
• Regular eye and foot exams
• Smoking cessation

The Fit4D coaching team is comprised of dietitians, exercise physiologists, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and personal trainers, most of whom are Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs). Our experts optimize the mix of clinical expertise and technology-based contact to achieve scale while also creating trusted and valued relationships with consumers/patients and health care professionals.

Furthermore, Fit4D leverages the collective intelligence, knowledge, experience & expertise of a multi-disciplinary team of CDEs to deliver focused and personalized programming that people can apply to their own unique lifestyle situation. Through technology, Fit4D creates scalable patient-centric engagement, which translates into empowered living for those diagnosed with (or at risk of) diabetes.

Our blended education modules consist of:

• Clinically-based content development and distribution
• 1-on-1 coaching
• Highly interactive webinars

Results our members have achieved include:

• Reduced A1c levels
• Reduced BMI levels
• Improved health-related outcomes affecting energy, mood & even reduced sick time

To experience the outcomes of our Fit4D blended education module:

Sample Best Practice:

Every region in the United States has at least one program targeted at combating this epidemic. Take as an example the practical solution developed by the New York State Health Foundation through its Meeting The Mark initiative.

In their own words; "Diabetes being a largely preventable and manageable condition, information and tools exist to help people manage the disease and reduce complications that lead to unnecessary hospitalizations and preventable death. The tasks at hand are to spread the use of these tools to clinicians and community leaders, support their efforts to achieve excellence in diabetes care, and make a measurable difference in the lives of people with diabetes.

A chief goal of the NYSHealth Diabetes Campaign is to help 3,000 primary care physicians achieve excellence in diabetes care as demonstrated by attaining recognition under the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA’s) Diabetes Recognition Program or Bridges to Excellence’s (BTE’s) Diabetes Care Recognition Program. By targeting 3,000 doctors, approximately 25% of the 11,000 primary care physicians in New York State, NYSHealth expects to set a new standard of care that will lead to a tangible increase in the number of people with controlled diabetes, a decrease in hospitalization rates for people with diabetes, and a decrease in the number of emergency room visits related to diabetes."

Fit4D applauds this initiative, and our results to date in other sectors would only accelerate the significant impact the role of education, human engagement & specialized content will have on such health care professionals.

Consumer Engagement:

• Webinars: We've helped achieve the following results from a 60 minute highly interactive webinar
  • 95% of attendees for webinars indicated that the experience met or exceeded their expectations
    
    • 56% said it met expectations
    • 39% said it exceeded expectations
  • 93% of webinar attendees requested more information regarding our client's products 

• 1-on-1 Coaching:
  
  • Over 80% of our engaged audience reduced their A1c and their BMI levels
  • They also reporting other improved health-related outcomes affecting their energy, mood & even reduced sick time

Content Development & Distribution: We delivered over 40 content modules spanning across written and video formats, further enhancing the rich user experience within the community. Content includes videos, FAQs, written articles, and brochures.

Health care Professionals (HCPs) Engagement:

Quantitative Results from Webinars: When Fit4D delivered a two-part series on ”Understanding A1C”...

• 100 HCPs attended (representing 50% of those who registered)
• 30% of the HCPs were from major health plans
• 100% of attendees who responded to the survey indicated that “the webinar provided valuable information that will help me treat my patients with diabetes” (47% strongly agreed, 53% agreed)

Qualitative Results: HCP responses to the question “What did you like most about this webinar series” included:

• “Examples given regarding techniques used”
• “Visuals that highlighted strategies”
• “Examples and approaches to patient to elicit change.”
• “Excellent relevant examples”
• “The examples of motivational interviewing. Professional speakers. Thanks for making it easy to understand.”

Summary: Trusted and credible relationships have been developed within HCP community thereby strengthening this referral channel.

In partnership with Federal, State & City governments, we would optimize the mix of human and technology-based contact to achieve scale while also creating trusted and valued relationships with consumers/patients, physicians and health care professionals. Fit4D leverages the collective intelligence, knowledge & experience of its Certified Diabetes Educators, and other health care clinicians, to create scalable patient centric engagement that translates into empowered living for those diagnosed with (or at risk of) diabetes.

If you're a government agency looking for more information on how you can experience the same results we've achieved in other sectors, please contact us at busdev@fit4d.com.