CCS Connects Earns DEAP Accreditation from AADE

FARMERS BRANCH, February 2, 2017 - CCS Connects, a leading diabetes education program from CCS Medical with 18 years of improved outcomes and adherence, was named a Diabetes Education Accreditation Program (DEAP) by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) on December 30, 2016.

"A traditional DEAP is a classroom in a brick and mortar setting that does not fit the needs of many people with diabetes today," said Kristine Erdman, RN, CDE, CPT, CCM, and CCS Medical's Vice President of Clinical Services. "CCS Connects is offered virtually, so that people with diabetes can connect over the phone, via email, webinar or Skype with our team of Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs). We provide ongoing, individualized and private sessions to our members." To inquire with our Clinical Services team, visit https://ccsmed.com/living-healthy/article/ccs-connects.

Created in 1999, CCS Connects is the longest running diabetes education program of its kind. It was designed to help patients improve adherence to diabetes treatment plans by using Health Risk Assessments and smart devices to collect real-time data and drive behaviors. CCS Connects also deploys wireless glucose technology and clinical monitoring.

"If we can increase high-risk member awareness to their condition, diagnosis and self-management principles," Erdman asserts, "we can reduce diabetes-related ER visits and hospitalizations, resulting in reduced healthcare costs."

The success of CCS Connects is evidenced by the following HEDIS and STAR Related Outcomes:

• 95% long-term member satisfaction rate.
• 25% higher adherence by members to completed recommended exams over national standards for Hemoglobin A1c, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Eye, and Kidney tests.
• Significant reductions in ER visits and hospitalizations related to diabetes.

CCS Connects is administered by CDEs who interact with members every three months, providing ongoing education and coaching focused on nutrition, product training, behavioral changes and goal setting. In select programs, CCS Connects provides 24/7 live monitoring, with appropriate intervention and coaching upon adverse glucose readings or trends. Members have access to a full medical team of RNs, RDs and pharmacists. In addition to educational materials and web videos, CCS Connects members also have access to a secure portal, myccsmed.com.

The DEAP accreditation certifies that the program meets the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support.

"Programs that meet the DEAP criteria are high quality and have been shown to help participants improve their health status by embracing the education and modifying behaviors," said Leslie E. Kolb, RN, BSN, MBA, and Accreditation Director for the DEAP. "CCS Connects is exactly the type of program we envisioned when we set up our accreditation in 2009."

CCS Connects is available to patients with commercial insurance, as well as those enrolled in CCS Medical's LivingConnected interactive wellness program.