Letter from the Editor: AADE Update; Diabetes Master Clinician Program

There has been a lot of activity at the AADE 37th Annual Meeting this past week. With over 3,000 of America’s most knowledgeable diabetes caregivers in attendance it is hard to imagine that so many patients never get the care that they need. With this in mind there was a lot of focus on how we could reach more patients. One of the more interesting presentations was given by Dr. Edward Shahady and Evelyn Schumacher, RD, CDE. They were focusing on the use of CDE’s to improve DSME by working with an office MA or nurse.

Dr. Shahady, who developed the Florida Academy of Family Physicians’ “Diabetes Master Clinician Program,” discussed methods used to improve diabetes care. This time he focused on the value of a patient registry and how to use that to improve care. He suggests adding all your diabetic patients’ information into the registry: this would include lab values but also data documenting eye check-ups.

His work has shown that if you just have your MA add the registry questions to their patient check-in procedure, costs and care failures decrease as your documentation increases. During the talk he also focused in on group office visits and how they can improve care and outcomes. He finished up by discussing the “Bridges to Excellence” program, which pays clinicians extra for good outcomes. If you would like more information about these programs please click here.

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Last week there was a front page article in a women’s magazine touting the ideal weight loss method for your genes. Then, while in San Antonio, I saw a commercial on TV for a diet plan based on genomic testing. Even Dr. Oz has weighed in on the subject. Knowing that your patients will probably come to you with questions on this new trend I asked our current intern, Catalina Pulecio, research the idea of “Nutrigenomics,” and what it means for your patients.
 

Announcements:

TCOYD Conference and Health Fair, Saturday, September 11, 2010, Providence, Rhode Island 
The TCOYD team will be at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI, on Saturday, September 11, for a full day of panel discussions, health exhibits, workshops, physical acitivies and hands-on sessions. Special Guests include: Charlie Kimball (Indy Lights Race Car driver) and Kim Lyons (Fitness Expert, Professional Trainer and Certified Nutritionist). For more 2010 upcoming conference details, please go to TCOYD.org.

dLife.com: August 8, 7PM ET on CNBC
Topics:The story of a war hero, the dramatic transplant that helped save his life, and what it may mean in the search for a cure. Plus, a visit to diabetes summer camp, and Jim Turner on high blood sugar hell. Special Guest: Airman Tre Porfirio. Sundays on CNBC at 7 PM ET, 6 PM CT, and 4 PM PT. Catch up on dLife.com.

Please answer this week’s Poll question (in the right-hand column):

Do you text or email your patients to help manage their diabetes?

Check out this week’s “Test Your Diabetes Knowledge” question!

Dave Joffe, Editor-in-chief