4 min reading timePediatric endocrinologist Dr. Jen Dyer gave up her practice to purse her entrepreneurial dream in the #mhealth space. Her new diabetes app, EndoGoddess, is now available at the Apple store.
Dr. Dyer sat with #MedDevice to discuss the innovation for diabetes.
Dr. Dyer: I stopped my clinical practice May 2011 to become full-time entrepreneur. I have taken huge $ cut in order to participate in #mhealth app development here at the start to develop it right for patients.
My new app for #diabetes provides REWARDS! We’re now featured in the Apple store.
Joe Hage: And you are part of some #mhealth organizations as I recall …?
Dr. Dyer: I am partnered with @eProximiti to develop exciting new health apps, including EndoGoddess app. @eProximiti is a Midwest startup in making innovative health apps upon their API @duethealth.
Joe Hage: Thanks. Tell us about the @EndoGoddess app. What does it do? What do you hope to accomplish? Who are you targeting?
Dr. Dyer: The @EndoGoddess app serves as a glucose journal that rewards monitoring with iTunes download points for those taking insulin. Here’s my blog, I talk more about it there.
Joe Hage: How much motivation does the average diabetic need to monitor his/her glucose levels? What behavior are you looking to replace?
Dr. Dyer: Diabetes is a scary constant chronic disease. Little rewards like iTunes each week just helps. Compliments & quotes from family and friends that sponsor you through the app … a feature that will be added next month.
Joe Hage: So family members would also have to download and pay for the app?
Dr. Dyer: No, as family member you don’t have to have the app but can sponsor your diabetic loved one when a link is sent to your email.
Joe Hage: So the @EndoGoddess app users would email a link to their families to “sponsor” them by contributing to an iTunes account. Yes?
Dr. Dyer: Yes. Users can easily share their glucose info with whomever they select. An unusual app feature we’re proud of.
Joe Hage: Do you have any research to support the idea that people with diabetes want to share their personal health data?
Dr. Dyer: App quality measures assessed by recent Journal of Medical Internet Research review paper looked at sharing, not many do it well.
Joe Hage: Can you talk to us about HIPAA implications? Specifically, is the app secure and does the FDA need to weigh in on the app? (See FDA Draft Guidance.)
Dr. Dyer: App is secure on the @duethealth Apple/Droid platform, not shared on the Internet. FDA regulations don’t apply to this app. HIPAA is not a concern for EndoGoddess app as the patient has control of sharing of their data. If a healthcare practitioner speaks back to a patient about their data on an app platform, then HIPAA would be a concern. Thus, not done on EndoGoddess app. Presently, the EndoGoddess app does not connect to EMR.
Joe Hage: Let me shift the conversation a bit. I have a client in the Telehealth space. They are looking at ways to communicate patient data (ultimately) to the primary care doc or telehealth monitoring service. Will @EndoGoddess look to integrate with these Telehealth monitoring services so docs can be aware, real-time, when glucose is out of control?
Dr. Dyer: EndoGoddess app isn’t integrating with telemedicine now. In my opinion, EMR systems like Practice Fusion (its tagline is Free, web-based electronic health records) using mobile is best for doc/pt. EndoGoddess app would love to partner with mobile glucometer device as future step to combine social media/rewards app + device. EndoGoddess app has great social/rewards program for glucose checks. Letting the patient avoiding self-entry is better (no human error, easier) with a mobile glucometer.
Joe Hage:
Dr. Dyer: Trend assessment and doc notification in real-time would be ideal. But, docs are presented with tons of data and no review time. Docs also not always available real-time yet liable for data.
Joe Hage: As I understand it, that’s where the telehealth monitoring service comes in.
Dr. Dyer: Absolutely. Phase 2 of our development plan is integrating with telehealth.
@auntlyh: @EndoGoddess How do I print for dr? What does report look like? If not same/better than device upload, won’t spend time/money on app.
Dr. Dyer: @auntlyh Simple report that is similar to device. Easy to share by tapping email button.
@KnightDiver, one of @EndoGoddess‘ 5,000+ followers sees the potential …
