Urgent Care Foundation Launches Research Study: Early Diabetes Detection in the Urgent Care
WARRENVILLE, Ill. (PRWEB) July 12, 2018 -- The Urgent Care Foundation has launched a research study to measure the benefits of diabetes screening in urgent care. Patients visiting urgent care centers for unrelated treatment may be unaware of their condition but could have undiagnosed prediabetes or diabetes. Screening for early diagnosis is essential to decreasing the development of the disease and reducing related health complications. The Urgent Care Foundation is a non-profit entity devoted to the support of education, research, philanthropy and awareness of urgent care. The Foundation is affiliated with the Urgent Care Association (UCA).
The study will take place at 12 urgent care centers across the country and include approximately 5,000 participants who meet the criteria for Early Diabetes Detection Protocol (EDDP), a screening method adapted from the 2016 American Diabetes Association Guidelines. The guidelines include any adult 45 years or older that has either elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) or high blood pressure, and one or more risk factors for diabetes, including a family history of cardiovascular disease. Participants found to be at risk will be further screened using fingerstick testing of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.
Half of all Americans who have diabetes do not know it, and many people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. “Chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes are occurring in epidemic proportions, creating a demand for urgent care practitioners to diagnose more complex illnesses,” said Chief Development Officer for the UCA and the Urgent Care Foundation Kim Youngblood.
The principal investigator for the study is Shannon Clark, DNP, MSN, RN, FNP-C, President, CEO and founder of Synergy Health Center & Urgent Care in Pleasanton, Calif. Clark previously conducted a study with 64 participants at Synergy Health where she found that 15.6 percent of screened patients were diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes.
“With just that small sample of participants, we realized that undiagnosed diabetes can potentially be a huge issue that the urgent care industry should address,” said Clark. “Considering the large volume of patients that present to urgent care centers each year in the U.S., and the severe health consequences of diabetes, the outcomes of this new research can lead to dramatic improvements in the health and quality of life for millions of people who have diabetes and other chronic illnesses. Urgent care centers are frequent destinations for patients who experience episodic illness or injury but are unaffiliated with a primary care doctor or medical home, making this setting a sensible option to provide screening services of this nature.”
There are more than 8,200 urgent care centers in the U.S. that see more than 89 million patients annually. The UCA and the Urgent Care Foundation offer access to a large population that can serve as a resource for research to help move health care forward.
“Urgent care centers and members of the UCA reach many patients, which allows the Urgent Care Foundation to conduct important studies in a short amount of time,” said Youngblood. “We look forward to developing future studies and continually driving improvement of health outcomes for patients.”
The Early Diabetes Detection in the Urgent Care study will conclude in fall 2018. It is sponsored by The Urgent Care Foundation, Abbott, which provided medical equipment, as well as McKesson. Diabetes is an ongoing and important topic for all health care providers. The disease will be the focus of a Diabetes Symposium at the 2018 UCA Fall Conference, taking place Oct. 12-14 in Houston.
For more information, please visit http://www.urgentcarefoundation.org/.
About the Urgent Care Foundation
The Urgent Care Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit entity, and is the singular, nationally-recognized entity devoted to the support of education, research, philanthropy and awareness of urgent care. The Urgent Care Foundation enhances the role, purpose and awareness of urgent care medicine by inspiring and contributing to research, education, clinical and practice management leadership, as well as innovation in new and emerging healthcare delivery models. The Foundation is affiliated with the Urgent Care Association (UCA).
About the Urgent Care Association
The Urgent Care Association (UCA) is a membership association of leaders, providers and suppliers in the field of on-demand, consumer-focused healthcare. UCA advances the industry and supports member success through advocacy, research, education, collaboration and high standards of care. The association maintains an active online presence and member community for daily exchange of best practices. For more information visit http://www.ucaoa.org.
i UCA 2017 Benchmarking Report
ii UCA 2018 Industry Whitepaper
Mary Velan, L.C. Williams and Associates, +1 (312) 565-3900, [email protected]
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