In Brief: HealthPartners, VitalSims Focus on Diabetes Care

Minneapolis-based provider HealthPartners has teamed with another local company to provide more focused preventive care and treatments for diabetes patients.

The joint venture with VitalSims includes the launch of SimCare Diabetes, educational modules used to train physicians and other healthcare professionals to better treat the disease, which has been affecting a growing number of adults and children due to the nationwide obesity epidemic. The modules will be marketed to providers across the nation.

Studies suggest that diabetes sufferers who do not effectively manage their disease have healthcare costs more than eight times higher than those whose symptoms are well-managed.

“Partnering with VitalSims to market SiMCare Diabetes and other programs as they’re developed will help us spread our research and development in ways that improve health, improve patient experience and ultimately lower health care costs,” said Andrew Nelson, HealthPartners’ executive director of research.