Siksika Health Services (SHS) has partnered with Orpyx® Medical Technologies (Orpyx) on a pilot program to help prevent and reduce the occurrence and recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) for Siksika members with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Funding is through PATHWAYS Indigenous Health Collaborations, a partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., and Bimaadzwin, with the support of GMAK Consulting.
This 24-week pilot will assess the effectiveness of using a digital therapeutic solution, Orpyx SI® Flex Sensory Insoles with Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) services, to prevent DFUs. The pilot will be available to 35 Siksika Nation members currently living with Type 2 Diabetes.
“Partnerships and access to technology like this allow Siksika Health Services to assist our Nation members who live with diabetes like never before,” commented Dr. Tyler White, CEO of Siksika Health Services. “It’s about quality of life and health improvement, which is ultimately what we are after here. So, I’m proud to collaborate with medical innovators like Orpyx and GMAK Consulting.”
Approximately 25% of people living with diabetes will develop a DFU in their lifetime, with 49% DFU recurrence in the first year and 68% recurrence within five year. In Alberta, there is one amputation every 22 hours resulting from a DFU. Diabetes is a particularly devastating disease for Indigenous populations in Canada, with 17.2% of on-reserve Indigenous populations diagnosed with diabetes compared to 10% of non-Indigenous populations.
“This collaboration is the first step in eliminating preventable DFUs within the Indigenous populations”, stated Dr. Breanne Everett, CEO and President of Orpyx. “Our long-term goal is to support Siksika Health Services in building a sustainable and cost-effective remote patient monitoring pathway for the delivery of quality health care to the Siksika Nation community.”
“What is exciting about this multi-collaboration with Siksika First Health Services and Orpyx is their innovative approach to the prevention of foot ulcers due to complications of T2D with the use of Orpyx SI® Flex Sensory Insoles and remote patient monitoring for their community members,” elaborated Allison Deer, Bimaadzwin Senior Project Advisor.
“Far too many of our people have lost limbs to this chronic disease and we are excited to contribute to a project that embraces amputation prevention. Our purpose at PATHWAYS is to optimize patient care and improve health outcomes through collaboration with the private and public sectors of development with the community as the driver of system change. We are proud to support this community-driven pilot to test grassroots solutions with potential national impact and begin to close the healthcare gaps for our people across Turtle Island.”
About the Partners
For further information:
Ryan Running Rabbit, Communications, Siksika Health Services, (403) 361 0584, ryanrr@siksikahealth.com
Karen Smith, Marketing, Orpyx Medical Technologies, (210) 823-9604, karen.smith@orpyx.com