Companion Healthcare and Eli Lilly launch Web-based Diabetes Programme

Companion Healthcare, a managed care subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, has developed an online Diabetes Education Centre for its members in partnership with pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly.

The Diabetes Education Centre http://www.diabeteseducationcenter.com/, created by Eli Lilly, is fully interactive and claimed to provide a simple, convenient way for Companion Healthcare members to learn more about managing their diabetes.

Companion Healthcare members can access six interactive modules that provide simple, preventive measures to help them reduce the risk for long-term complications and maintain a healthier quality of life.

The modules were developed based on the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the Diabetes Quality Improvement Project standards.

In each section, questions are asked about the patient’s diabetes treatment history. These responses provide a personally relevant learning experience about their disease and recommendations for minimising the risks of long term complications. All patient information is kept completely confidential.

"The Website, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allows our diabetic members to take a more active role in managing their diabetes," said Beth Parris, diabetes management coordinator, Companion Healthcare.

"This initiative will further enhance the value added services we offer our membership as we move some of our patient education efforts over to interactive Web based applications," said John Little, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, Companion Healthcare.