Stanford, U of Florida researchers partner to improve Type 1 diabetes care with telehealth

Jessica Kim Cohen -

The Leona M. & Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust awarded researchers at the Gainesville-based University of Florida Diabetes Institute and Stanford (Calif.) University a combined $1.6 million grant to improve patient access to Type 1 diabetes care with telehealth, the organization announced Jan. 8.

The 18-month grant will support research led by Michael J. Haller, MD, chief of pediatrics at the UF Health, and Ashby Walker, PhD, director of health equity initiatives at the UF Diabetes Institute, along with collaborators at Stanford.

Under the grant, the researchers will work with primary care physicians in Florida and California to assess racial, socioeconomic and geographic disparities that affect patient access to Type 1 diabetes care, such as why a patient may not regularly visit an endocrinologist.

"Some patients, particularly lower income urban and rural residents, may lack optimal access to endocrinologists and other healthcare specialists," Dr. Haller said. "In those cases, patients may be getting insulin from their family doctor but doing little or nothing else to manage their diabetes."

The researchers will provide primary care physicians who work with Type 1 diabetes patients virtual training and tele-education opportunities. These physicians will also have access to real-time medical consultations with diabetes professionals.

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