Newswise — BOSTON – January 6, 2014 – Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, has launched a pilot program in conjunction with Truman Medical Centers, the primary teaching hospital for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Schools of Medicine to test the capabilities of a novel and innovative care analytics tool called the Joslin Clinical Analytical Tool (JCAT™).

Developed by Joslin physicians, JCAT enables healthcare providers to systematically gauge the effectiveness of diabetes care, identify gaps in care earlier, and, when appropriate, implement changes to the treatment plan, thus reducing the risks for complications and improving health outcomes for those with diabetes.

“We are delighted to be working with Truman Medical Centers on this project. TMC has a well-documented track record of delivering innovative programs to help people live healthier lives,” said Director of Medical Affairs, Healthcare Services, Joslin Diabetes Center and Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School, Rich Jackson, MD. “We are also very impressed by TMC’s commitment to its community and the great work that it continues in this realm as well. TMC is an ideal partner for implementing an innovative program such as JCAT.”

The tool identifies specific areas for intervention that are likely to be the most effective in improving health outcomes and reducing the cost of care. Unlike other quality measures, JCAT provides a roadmap to improvement specific enough to be actionable and pragmatic.

“TMC is a leader in providing top quality care to those with chronic illness. Each year, nearly 70 percent of TMC’s patient base has at least one major chronic disease, with diabetes being the second largest group behind hypertension,” said TMC Executive Vice President of Clinical Coordination, Mark McPhee, MD. “Partnering with Joslin Diabetes Center allows TMC to make innovative advancements in the methods of care for people with diabetes at the primary care level while at the same time exposing the JCAT to a unique patient base.”

Earlier results, presented at the 2013 73rd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association, showed significant improvement in diabetes outcomes for patients whose physicians participated in a JCAT study.

About Joslin Diabetes Center Joslin Diabetes Center, based in Boston, Massachusetts, undertakes diabetes research, clinical care, education and health and wellness programs on a global scale. Joslin is dedicated to ensuring that people with diabetes live long, healthy lives and offers real progress in preventing and curing diabetes Joslin is an independent, nonprofit institution affiliated with Harvard Medical School, and is recognized worldwide for driving innovative solutions in diabetes prevention, research, education, and care. Joslin’s mission is to prevent, treat and cure diabetes; the Center’s vision is a world free of diabetes and its complications. For more information, visit www.joslin.org.

About TMC Truman Medical Centers is a not-for-profit, two acute-care hospital health system in Kansas City. The TMC Health System includes TMC Hospital Hill, TMC Lakewood, TMC Behavioral Health, the Jackson County Health Department and a number of primary care practices throughout Eastern Jackson County. TMC is the primary teaching hospital for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry and Pharmacy and specializes in Chronic Disease Management, high risk pregnancies, orthopaedics, trauma services, and women’s health. For more information, please call (816) 404-3785 or visit at www.trumed.org or on Facebook.

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