ChoicePoint Health Systems to Offer Diabetes Product Directly to Consumers.Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers OLATHE, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2001 ChoicePoint Health Systems, a subsidiary of ChoicePoint Inc. (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :CPS), announced today the launch of a new direct-to-consumer product cleared by the FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. that is designed to help patients with diabetes more effectively monitor their blood sugar. The FDA-cleared system -- Appraise appraise v. to professionally evaluate the value of property including real estate, jewelry, antique furniture, securities, or in certain cases the loss of value (or cost of replacement) due to damage. (TM) Hemoglobin A1c hemoglobin A1c Glycosylated hemoglobin, see there -- enables patients to purchase the product directly in order to monitor their blood sugar levels over the previous three months without having to go to a laboratory to have their blood drawn. Last March, the company introduced a similar product for Hemoglobin A1c that required health care professionals to request the test for their patients. There are an estimated 16 million people with diabetes in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The American Diabetes Association The American Diabetes Association, or the ADA, is an American health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of recommends that Hemoglobin A1c be measured at least two times per year in patients with diabetes, however, the Center for Disease Control recently reported that less than 19% of patients with diabetes in this country receive even one Hemoglobin A1c test annually. The announcement was made by ChoicePoint Health Systems senior vice president Robert S. Shea, at the Diabetes Expo 2001 in Phoenix, Ariz. "Our focus at ChoicePoint Health Systems is to ensure that patients and health care professionals have access to the latest testing technologies that could improve their health," says Shea. "By providing convenient, direct-to-consumer testing products, patients can take a more active role in the treatment of their diabetes." Hemoglobin A1c provides a patient with an indicator of his/her average blood sugar control over the previous three months. Effective monitoring will help the patient and the health care professional assess the effectiveness of the current treatment plan and make adjustments as appropriate. Keeping blood sugar levels within acceptable levels will help reduce complications that can lead to cardiovascular disease Cardiovascular disease Disease that affects the heart and blood vessels. Mentioned in: Lipoproteins Test cardiovascular disease , blindness, kidney failure kidney failure or renal failure Partial or complete loss of kidney function. Acute failure causes reduced urine output and blood chemical imbalance, including uremia. Most patients recover within six weeks. and amputations. "We believe that improved access to this test will result in better health care treatment and reduced heath care costs overall," adds Shea. Patients will be able to purchase Appraise Hemoglobin A1c test directly through the ChoicePoint Health System's Customer Service Department (888/593-2747) or through the company website: www.choicepointhealth.com. For more information about the American Diabetes Association testing recommendations, please see the ADA's Clinical Practice Guidelines clinical practice guidelines Clinical policies, practice guidelines, practice parameters, practice policies Medtalk Systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and Pt decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. See Psychology. at www.diabetes.org. ChoicePoint is the leading provider of credential verification and identification services for making smarter decisions in today's fast-paced world. The Company serves the information needs of insurance, business, government and individual customers, including Fortune 1000 corporations, asset-based lenders and professional service providers, and federal, state and local governments. ChoicePoint is committed to the responsible use of information and the protection of personal privacy as fundamental planks of the Company's business model. For more information about ChoicePoint visit the Company's web site at www.choicepoint.net. ChoicePoint is a registered trademark and Appraise is a trademark of ChoicePoint Asset Company. |
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