Diabetes affects nearly 25 million Americans, and that number is
expected to grow substantially every year. It's the fifth
leading cause of death in America, more than breast cancer and
AIDs combined. And according to a report released last week from
the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), it's a
disease that’s costing Americans $83 billion a year in hospital
fees — 23 percent of total hospital spending. New technology is
popping up all over in the medical community, from new
diagnostic machines, to new ways of administering drugs, to an
almost endless supply of self-monitoring devices such as blood
glucose meters. But a technology often overlooked is one that
could have the most impact-electronic medical records. Are
adults with diabetes better able to manage their disease if they
can schedule same- or next-day appointments to see their doctors
rather than sticking to appointments made in advance? The
conventional wisdom goes that if people with diabetes can more
quickly get in to see their do