WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NeuroMetrix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NURO), www.neurometrix.com, a medical device company focused on the diagnosis and treatment of the neurological complications of diabetes, reported today that WellMed Medical Management, a San Antonio, Texas-based diversified healthcare company and healthcare provider, is integrating the NC-stat DPNCheck into their patient evaluation program. WellMed plans to have NC-stat DPNCheck in all their facilities, including more than 45 primary care clinics in Texas and Florida, and at most of the independent physician clinics in their service network. WellMed provides an innovative healthcare delivery system for Medicare-eligible patients. It is recognized as an industry leader in medical risk management, highly effective disease management and chronic care programs, and efficient healthcare delivery services.
The NC-stat DPNCheck is a fast, accurate and quantitative point-of-care test to detect systemic neuropathies, such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), at an early stage and to determine disease severity. DPN affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and may lead to foot ulcers and limb amputation, as well as pain and an overall reduction in quality of life. Studies have shown that traditional clinical testing methods, such as monofilament and vibration testing, are insensitive to mild neuropathy, and may even miss later stage disease. This diagnostic gap can lead to missed opportunities for intervention. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are recognized as the gold standard for detecting neuropathy. Until the recent introduction of NC-stat DPNCheck, widespread use of NCS in patients with diabetes was not feasible or economically viable.
"The addition of the NC-stat DPNCheck to our patient evaluation protocol will allow WellMed to accurately identify the patients with DPN and concentrate our attention and efforts on the most at-risk patients," said Gary Piefer, MD, MsMM, FACPE, FAAFP, Chief Medical Officer at WellMed Medical Management. "This innovative technology will advance WellMed's mission to change the face of healthcare delivery for seniors by providing quality, proactive patient care with a focus on prevention by detecting nerve damage earlier and more reliably than alternative approaches."
"We are pleased that WellMed Medical Management has chosen the NC-stat DPNCheck for the evaluation of DPN in their patients," said Shai N. Gozani, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, NeuroMetrix. "NC-stat DPNCheck is ideal for health organizations such as WellMed that are proactively focused on keeping their patients healthy and informed."
About NeuroMetrix
NeuroMetrix is an innovative medical device company that develops and markets home use and point-of-care devices, associated consumables, and support software for the treatment and management of diabetes and its complications. The company is focused on nerve related complications of diabetes, called diabetic neuropathies, which affect over 50% of people with diabetes. If left untreated, diabetic neuropathies trigger foot ulcers that may require amputation, cause disabling pain, and increase the risk of falling in the elderly. The annual cost of diabetic neuropathies has been estimated at $14 billion in the United States. The company’s products are used by physicians and other clinicians, in retail health settings such as pharmacies, and by managed care organizations to optimize patient care and reduce healthcare costs. The company markets the NC-stat® DPNCheck™ device, which is a rapid, accurate, and quantitative point-of-care test for diabetic neuropathy. This product is used to detect diabetic neuropathy at an early stage and to guide treatment. The company is in late stage development of SENSUS™, a pain management device that will be used to treat painful diabetic neuropathy, a form of chronic intractable pain. Currently, painful diabetic neuropathy is treated pharmacologically, which is a $2 billion annual market. The company has additional therapeutic products in its pipeline. For more information, please visit http://www.neurometrix.com.