Dr. Steve Ross is the Principal Investigator on the project entitled D-STAR (Diabetes-System To Access Records): An Online Patient Portal to Improve and Sustain Diabetes Self-Care at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Aurora, CO.

What is unique and/or innovative about your study?
Although many organizations have experience with using the Internet to share test results with patients, we are one of few institutions that have experience sharing doctors’ notes with patients. Our experience to date is that patients appreciate having this access and use it appropriately. But just reading the doctors’ notes doesn’t seem to help patients care for themselves better. In our Health e-Technologies project, we have built on our previous work by presenting information from the medical record in a much more understandable and engaging format. We have also integrated it with flexible, personalized programs that assist patients directly, helping them to take their medications regularly, eat better, and get regular exercise.

How is your project progressing so far?
Our system is in place at four practices associated with University of Colorado Hospital. We have gotten an enthusiastic response from the participating doctors and clinic staff. Through mailings and recruitment at the time of the clinic visit, we have succeeded in enrolling 200 patients in our first three months of recruitment. Our ultimate recruitment goal is 480 patients. These patients will be studied over a six-month period.

What prompted you to explore this research?
As a doctor who cares for patients with diabetes, I know how complicated diabetes care can be. Time is limited in the clinic visit, and it is difficult for many patients to get personalized assistance between visits. The Internet provides a great opportunity to enhance my medical care by providing patients with personalized information and guidance at a time and place that is convenient for them.

How would a typical end-user utilize the final product/results of your research?
Patients will be able to use the final product of our research to check on their diabetes-related laboratory values, see how their health could be improved, set goals to improve their health, and get automatic follow up on those goals. Our product also makes it easy for patients to get advice from the doctor between visits, using a secure online system.

What are the greatest challenges in eHealth and more specifically, your project?
One challenge is reaching the people most in need. Our project has tried to be as intuitive and user-friendly as possible, but of course there are limitations in any intervention that requires patients to use the Internet. In the future, we plan to use devices that even people who are uncomfortable with computers will feel comfortable with. Another challenge is keeping the system relevant and engaging over time. We are optimistic that patients will want to return to our system, which encourages continuous improvement of self-care, provides automated follow-up, and is constantly updated with the latest information from the medical record. Finally, there is the challenge of integrating eHealth systems into the workflow of the organization that sponsors it. We have been fortunate to build on a system that doctors and staff already use to track and record their phone messages with patients, so no one has to be cajoled into logging in to an entirely new system.

In what ways would you like to see eHealth evolve?
As eHealth becomes more sophisticated, we will see programs that are more flexible to better meet patients’ needs. A variety of information technology devices will be available at less expense, and these devices will be both more customizable and easier to use. Research is an important piece of the puzzle, helping us design programs that aren’t just superficially appealing, but really make a difference in the lives of our patients.

How do you stay informed of advances and innovations in eHealth?
Conferences, journals, and websites like the Informatics Review are helpful. Collaborating with local and national experts in eHealth is particularly valuable.

Steve – thank you for checking in!

In August, Dr. C. Martin Harris of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation will be featured in our final installment of Meet the Grantees.