KCHC to have several initiatives for diabetes care

The Kinston Community Health Center is the beneficiary of a grant in collaboration with the North Carolina Community Health Center Association and Collaborative Health Solutions.

The organization will be able to provide several new telehealth services from outside vendors for patients with diabetes, as KCHC will work with numerous organizations to provide care. CertIntell will provide blood pressure and blood glucose monitors to KCHC to transmit data over the internet to the patient’s provider and give alerts for any complications in the process.

Also, EYEmergencyMD will deliver a retinal camera to KCHC to screen for diabetic retinopathy in order to screen for possible signs of blindness. The image of the retina will be sent to a specialist and read within 48 hours. If the patient needs specialty care, then KCHC can refer him or her to its usual ophthalmology referral offices.

Finally, Certintell will provide blood pressure and blood glucose monitors to KCHC, helping transmit data securely over the Internet to the patient’s provider at the center. Staff will train patients on how to use the material and an alert will be sent when the patient’s blood sugar or pressure is out of range.

 "With diabetes becoming the biggest disease in the South, we understood the importance of something like this and we were blessed with this grant," KCHC Quality Improvement Coordinator Tracie Zeagler said. “We’re trying to make this a one-stop shop for those dealing with diabetes while also giving them the option to do as much as possible at home.

“We want to provide help for those who need it in an efficient manner and make the process as convenient as we can.”

The initiatives will be at no costs to patients at KCHC.