According to the latest statistics by National Health and Family Planning Commission, China has over 260 million patients of chronic diseases. Chronic diseases mainly including hypertension, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease, etc. are different from common diseases by its long course and incurability. People died of the diseases accounts for 85% of total death toll in China, resulted in 70% of total disease burden. These figures are the manifesto of its importance in the overall disease management. In this aspect, "online +offline"  interaction and 5S precise chronic disease management mode created by Shenzhen New Element Health Management Co., Ltd. (New Element) have set a good example for this industry.

Traditionally, the management is doctor-centered who manage, educate and guide patients to control disease by modifying living habits in addition to taking medications. The practice however was not successful due to the limited time of doctors, low efficiency, insufficient fund and personnel of enterprises and the fact that patients were passive. "Internet +" however, make the implementation more promising especially because the benefits of mobile medical products such as low cost, interaction, artificial intelligence and mobile test can exactly resolve the problems of traditional chronic disease management.

Obstacles to chronic disease management

Since 2014, mobile medical has been an idea so popular that both established enterprises and newly players published concepts to promote medical reform, optimize doctor-visiting procedure and improving medical system, etc., transferring many sectors to online. For example, there are more than 500 mobile medical Apps for diabetes alone, adopting the service mode of "software + intelligent hardware" for the management.

Compared with the traditional mode, Internet-based service is no doubt more efficient and low-cost, an important factor in sound chronic disease management. Internet mode, on the other hand is still short of key approaches to change health behaviors. Reminding, educating and encouraging customer are also major problems which have not yet been solved by parameter setting, reminding and tracing. Initially, many Apps were only used for collecting information and data of user in a large scale.

Meanwhile, user coverage is quite low because over half of chronic disease patients are middle-aged and elderly people who can use the Internet only when younger people around. Data of 2016 Mobile Medical APP Survey shows that health apps are used only by 10% ~20% of users once or more per month. Professor Zhang Qian, Chief Scientist of New Element believed that such measures are too "superficial" to realize effective intervention to the chronic disease patients or help them release and control their diseases.

Internet + chronic disease management shall be implemented

"Chronic disease management to change unhealthy human habits such laziness, intervene diet of human being and conduct treatment through exercise, etc.. It is a mission impossible to change one's habit for decades only by online Internet platform, mobile APP and intelligent wearable products, etc." Professor Zhang Qian of New Element said frankly. Therefore, the management may tend to be in the way of combination of "online +offline", implement the chronic disease management in the place available for experience patients, and make online platform assist offline services.

Internationally, chronic disease management mode started earlier. Through decades of development, a systematic implementation and management system has been built, and effective management of chronic diseases by Internet has realized. International practice is to apply network technology into the field, set up special archives for patients, monitor relevant index for the patients and upload their out-hospital medication, treatment and disease control. According to a hierarchical management system, once abnormal data appear, specialized doctors will contact the patients in time, adjust the treatment plans. At the same time, medical staff will teach patients on related knowledge and remind them to enhance self-management properly. Such mode has been recognized by WHO and it is also one of the leading medical philosophies.

Medical method is just the beginning the whole treatment, while post service, behavior management, medication tracing, diet control and exercise shall be the continuous concerns. If professionals can follow up patients' state of disease after hospital and help them manage and control the life style after treatment, health and life quality of patients can be promoted while medical expenses can also be reduced significantly. It is the most cost-effective approach. Highlighting the intervention part of chronic disease management is the key to practically implement the idea.

There are, however different opinions in the field. After all, applying the idea offline is not easy considering its resources occupation and investment of sites, devices and talents, seeming against the "Internet way". It is of course reasonable. Everyone in the industry is result-oriented, but few players are willing to try the "short-term slow, long-term fast" strategy.

New Element is breaking the ice

Many enterprises are exploring new modes to overcome the bottleneck. New Element, the leader of "Internet + chronic disease management" has created a new business pattern through the double-way of online hospital platform and offline service outlet.

New Element has been focusing on chronic management model innovation and implementation since 2010. Through strategic cooperating with large hospitals, it has established the first network hospital in China, network rehabilitation hospital, Tsinghua Changgung international hepatobiliary cloud hospital federation and has successively established chronic disease management service stores in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, etc. Service stores are mostly located around business areas and living areas, equipped with professional chronic disease managers and remote intelligent test devices. According to authoritative management schemes, health managers provide patients professional services based on the interconnected health management platform with hospitals, such as screening, education and diet and exercise guidance, etc.

What's more, as for service standard and products,  in 2016, New Element chronic disease management set up the 5S precise chronic disease management service system (5S, i.e. screening, prevention, diagnosis, intervention and insurance), and medical store, offering over 40 programs with famous doctors deeply involved, covering common chronic diseases, rehabilitation and operations, etc., such as [diabetes prevention] diabetes carer, teenagers' ankle disease rehabilitation management, spine care, hypertension health manager and gout health carer, etc. 3+ elite service team (i.e. authoritative experts,  general practitioner and chronic disease managers) provide the user standard and full-course out-hospital chronic disease management services, including online services and offline services.

Ms. Xie who suffered diabetes for 8 years complained that her out-of-controlled GLYX disturbed her by the potential complication. After receiving the 5S services, her GLYX has been under controlled. She said that "Previously, I know little about diabetes and health management, but now my disease is well-controlled thank to the help and education of specialists and health managers."

Since the "online +offline" 5S mode was created, New Element has provided tens of thousands of members services to manage their health, establishing reputation and recognized by the industry and government. "In 2017, New Element will accumulate strength steadily in the industry, innovate and explore new modes and products for the age of great health." Officials of New Element stated.