The rapid advancement of diabetes-related technology over the past decade, including CGMs, insulin pumps, and Bluetooth insulin pens, has introduced both opportunities and challenges for endocrinology practices. While these tools offer crucial data for providers, practices have become overwhelmed by the workload required to implement them and effectively manage the data they generate. Additionally, many practices have struggled to effectively navigate billing for both in-person and remote monitoring associated with these devices, further frustrating practices trying to provide excellent patient care.
At Jefferson City Medical Center (JCMG) in Missouri, Endocrinologist Dr. Rauba and his team experienced these challenges firsthand, prompting the need for a more streamlined approach to diabetes management.
Addressing Data Access Issues and Remote Monitoring Gaps Before SweetSpot
Before integrating SweetSpot, Dr. Rauba and his team at JCMG faced significant challenges managing diabetes care both in person and remotely, particularly with accessing patient data and conducting timely follow-ups.
Due to the variety of CGMs and insulin pumps used by patients, nurses had to navigate multiple diabetes management web applications, manually downloading and printing reports for Dr. Rauba to review during patient visits. This cumbersome and time-consuming process often resulted in data errors or delays—nearly two out of three times, patient data would either fail to upload correctly or face backlogs, leading to delayed or rescheduled appointments.
The small staff size and large patient population further complicated care. The team lacked the capacity to proactively check on at-risk patients or those who had recent adjustments to their diabetes regimen. As a result, 80% of patients did not follow up as instructed, often leaving their next in-person appointment months later as the only point of contact. Additionally, when phone check-ins did occur, the complexity of accessing patient data reports persisted.
The staff also struggled with the administrative burden of submitting billing codes for remote care services, leading to missed reimbursements for the comprehensive care they provided.
Transforming Care with SweetSpot: Enhanced Efficiency and Real-Time Data Access
SweetSpot has transformed diabetes management at JCMG by streamlining CGM and insulin pump data review. The platform reduces the need for manual downloads and ensures patients are properly set up for data-sharing, freeing staff for higher-value tasks. With SweetSpot’s comprehensive dashboard, Dr. Rauba and his staff can access all their patients’ device data in one place, allowing for real-time data review during both visits and follow-up calls.
“Before SweetSpot, asking nurses to download data manually was time-consuming and often led to delays in patient care. Now, I can download it quickly, and everything flows a lot better,” shared Dr. Rauba.
The platform’s automated notes summary feature has also reduced the time spent interpreting patient data, enabling more meaningful conversations with patients about their glycemic health during appointments.
Expanding Efficiency and Revenue with SweetSpot’s Clinical Team
By partnering with SweetSpot’s clinical team, JCMG has significantly improved their efficiency in remote patient monitoring and data analysis. The SweetSpot dashboard helps staff quickly identify patients needing follow-up, while the clinical team proactively reaches out to patients for monthly data reviews, device troubleshooting, and treatment recommendations.
If Dr. Rauba’s team were to manually review and contact each patient managed by SweetSpot, it would require up to 54 hours weekly—an impractical burden for the clinic. SweetSpot not only reduces this workload but also ensures that all billable care events are properly tracked and submitted for reimbursement, optimizing revenue for the practice.
JCMG expects to collect an additional $110k in revenue by the end of 2024 for about 100 enrolled patients, translating to roughly $36k in extra revenue per provider with minimal administrative effort.
“It’s a missed opportunity to help patients and missed revenue,” Dr. Rauba explained. “We get so busy in the clinic, we don’t have time to reach out on our own to every patient between visits. Now we can do more for patients with the help of the SweetSpot team and get reimbursed for it.”
Transforming Patient Outcomes
Beyond operational improvements, SweetSpot has significantly enhanced patient outcomes at JCMG. Real-time data access and proactive monitoring have led to better glycemic control, with many patients experiencing substantial A1C reductions.
“Several pump patients have seen their A1C drop from 8-9% to the low 7s because of the monthly reviews and adjustments, and we’ve been able to alleviate hypoglycemia for many MDI patients who would never typically call us in between visits,” noted Dr. Rauba.
One standout success story involved a female patient whose glucose levels were dangerously low nearly 30% of the time. After a counseling session with SweetSpot’s clinical team, followed by a slight insulin reduction approved by Dr. Rauba, her time spent in low glucose dropped to just 3%—a remarkable 90% reduction in low glucose episodes.
Looking Ahead: JCMG’s Vision for the Future
JCMG plans to expand SweetSpot’s use across their patient population, particularly focusing on insulin pump users. Dr. Rauba envisions SweetSpot as an essential part of their long-term diabetes management strategy, enabling proactive patient care and improved outcomes.
“SweetSpot helps with proactive outreach to our patients, allowing for adjustments and monitoring on a monthly basis, and it keeps our patients engaged in their own healthcare and self-management,” said Dr. Rauba. “It’s just going to be part of what we do.”
You can download the full case study about JCMG here.
Want to learn more about SweetSpot and how we are revolutionizing diabetes management? Chck out our website or shoot us a message at info@sweetspot.health.
SweetSpot is a remote diabetes management platform that supports all major diabetes devices and insulin delivery systems to provide physicians with a single view of their patients’ data. SweetSpot's intelligent algorithm identifies the most optimal CPT codes for both remote and in-person diabetes management, and a dedicated team of Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialists provide ongoing support.
As a company founded and powered by physicians and diabetes care providers, we place a strong emphasis on ensuring that there are no obstacles to getting started with SweetSpot. That’s why SweetSpot is easy to set up and designed to seamlessly integrate into your existing workflows and comes with no setup costs or subscription fees.
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