Diabetes
- Program Link to Community Needs Assessment
- Program Description
- Goals and Objectives
- Strategy
- Baseline Information
- Medical Center's Contribution or Program Expense
- Results
- Amendments to Community Benefit Plan
Program Link to Community Needs Assessment
The incidence of diabetes in the communities surrounding Alta Bates Summit is steadily rising as represented in the 2010 community needs assessment, The Health of Alameda County Cities and Places. Diabetes is a leading cause of death in the county and a strong contributor to many other diseases, including heart attacks and strokes. Diabetes mortality is up to three times higher in poorer parts of Alameda County including Oakland, Cherryland and Hayward.
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Program Description
The primary mission of the Diabetes Center is to provide diabetes self-management to people with diabetes in Alameda County. The Diabetes Resource Project, initiated in 2009 in response to community need among uninsured and underinsured community members, provides free comprehensive diabetes self-management training to patients who could otherwise not have access to this education, to teach proper use of medications and prevention of complications.
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Goals and Objectives
To provide assessment and intervention to a total of 100 underinsured and uninsured diabetes patients by December of 2011.
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Strategy
Strategies employed included:
- providing two in-services to emergency department managers, charge nurses and case managers regarding the Diabetes Resource Project services
- providing informational brochures to ED staff for diabetes patients
- contacting prospective patients via letter and phone call to offer free educational services
To evaluate the success of the Diabetes Resource Project, a monthly report of ER visits of uninsured and underinsured patients is tracked and monitored for repeat visits and hospital admissions for hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
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Baseline Information
Diabetes and its complications are an enormous human and financial burden to our community. Reports of Alta Bates Summit Emergency Department visits for diabetes related diagnosis 2008-2010 showed that approximately 50% of the visits were patients that are uninsured or underinsured (MediCal). In 2011, an average 100 uninsured and underinsured patients with a diabetes diagnosis were seen at the ABSMC Emergency Department each month. These patients often present with preventable hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. We knew that patients could benefit from comprehensive diabetes self-management training in which they would learn the proper use of their medications and prevention of complications.
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Medical Center's Contribution or Program Expense
The Diabetes Resource Project is a community benefit program of Alta Bates Summit. The medical center cash contribution is $52,000.
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Results
100 uninsured or underinsured patients were seen through the Diabetes Resource Project. A small random sampling from this 1.5 year of service indicated a 52% reduction in admissions.
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Amendments to Community Benefit Plan
Strategies will remain the same and we hope to expand our efforts.
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