Every Diabetic Counts

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Contact Information

Organization Information

Project Summary

The Everyone with Diabetes Counts (EDC) national initiative is part of a five year contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The Quality Insights Quality Innovation Network serves Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The EDC program aims to improve health outcomes and reduce issues of health disparities among people with diabetes. Quality Insights works with providers, practices, community partners and stakeholders to support these important efforts by helping them build and support infrastructures that provide access to interactive evidence-based Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME). The overall objectives of DSME are to support informed decision-making, self-care behaviors, problem-solving and active collaboration with the health care team to improve clinical outcomes, health status and quality of life. As part of the EDC program, trained educators from Quality Insights and local community volunteers offer DSME throughout the Network’s five states by using a model called the Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP). DEEP incorporates the needs, goals and life experiences of the person with diabetes and is guided by evidenced-based standards.

Project Goal

The overall objectives of DSME are to support informed decision-making, self-care behaviors, problem-solving and active collaboration with the health care team to improve clinical outcomes, health status and quality of life. EDC mission is to unite stakeholders with a shared vision of improved diabetes self-management and to achieve broad goals, including: • Improving HbA1c, lipid, blood pressure and weight control outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes • Decreasing the number of people who require lower extremity amputations due to complications resulting from poorly controlled diabetes • Improving the health literacy of people with diabetes who have Medicare and/or Medicaid • Increasing providers’ adherence to clinical guidelines related to HbA1c, lipids, and eye exams • Becoming a Certified Diabetes Center • Increasing the number of Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs) in each state

Promotional Methods

Quality Insights collaborates with partners at the national, state and local level. We contact and meet with many of the key players in health promotion, including the state Bureaus for Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Diabetes Program, state Extension Services, Dining with Diabetes programs, state and local health departments, Council of Churches, Indian Health Services, Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, local Rural Health Associations, national pharmacy chains, and much more. We also reach out to local diabetes coalitions, acute care hospitals and physician offices.

Project Challenges

There are many competing programs within PA. Working in the faith based community in place of only health systems or physician practices has provided additional opportunities to reach diabetics in the community.

Project Results

The EDC is ongoing, participants learn how to self-manage their diabetes for a better quality of life. The classes help patients understand diabetes and its risks as well as the importance of diet, exercise, keeping regular physician exams, receiving annual foot and eye exams, managing medications and much more. Overall, it teaches participants how to live healthier and have a better quality of life. Class participants that successfully complete the classes may give permission for their primary care physician to release data on their clinical measures. The measures monitored may be HgA1C, lipids and eye exams.

Organization Type

Other

Types of Practices

  • Community
  • Other

Target Age Ranges

  • 65+

Gender(s)

  • All

Race/Ethnicity

  • All

Project Service Type

  • Disease Management (long-term)
  • Education / Training / Resource Development
  • Prevention

Project Content Area

  • Diabetes
  • Health (general)
  • Health Equity
  • Nutrition
  • Physical Activity
  • Type 2 Diabetes

Project/Program Care Team Target Population

  • Other

Counties Served

  • Adams
  • Chester
  • Dauphin
  • Delaware
  • Montgomery
  • Perry
  • Philadelphia
  • York

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