The Rapid Implementation of an Innovative Virtual Diabetes Boot Camp Program: Case Study

Background COVID-19 disrupted health care, causing a decline in the health of patients with chronic diseases and a need to reimagine diabetes care. With the advances in telehealth programs, there is a need to effectively implement programs that meet the needs of patients quickly. Objective The aim of this paper was to create a virtual boot camp program for patients with diabetes, in 3 months, from project conception to the enrollment of our first patients. Our goal is to provide practical strategies for rapidly launching an effective virtual program to improve diabetes care. Methods A multidisciplinary team of physicians, dieticians, and educators, with support from the telehealth team, created a virtual program for patients with diabetes. The program combined online diabetes data tracking with weekly telehealth visits over a 12-week period. Results Over 100 patients have been enrolled in the virtual diabetes boot camp. Preliminary data show an improvement of diabetes in 75% (n=75) of the patients who completed the program. Four principles were identified and developed to reflect the quick design and launch. Conclusions The rapid launch of a virtual diabetes program is feasible. A coordinated, team-based, systematic approach will facilitate implementation and sustained adoption across a large multispecialty ambulatory health care organization.

The Rapid Implementation of an Innovative Virtual Diabetes Boot Camp Program: Case Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND COVID-19 disrupted health care, causing a decline in the health of patients with chronic diseases and a need to reimagine diabetes care. With the advances in telehealth programs, there is a need to effectively implement programs that meet the needs of patients quickly. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper was to create a virtual boot camp program for patients with diabetes, in 3 months, from project conception to the enrollment of our first patients. Our goal is to provide practical strategies for rapidly launching an effective virtual program to improve diabetes care. METHODS A multidisciplinary team of physicians, dieticians, and educators, with support from the telehealth team, created a virtual program for patients with diabetes. The program combined online diabetes data tracking with weekly telehealth visits over a 12-week period. RESULTS Over 100 patients have been enrolled in the virtual diabetes boot camp. Preliminary data show an improvement of diabetes in 75% (n=75) of the patients who completed the program. Four principles were identified and developed to reflect the quick design and launch. CONCLUSIONS The rapid launch of a virtual diabetes program is feasible. A coordinated, team-based, systematic approach will facilitate implementation and sustained adoption across a large multispecialty ambulatory health care organization.

Overview of In-Hospital Diabetes Management: Audit of Patients Attending a Rural Hospital in Queensland, Australia

Context: The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) health survey in 2018 demonstrated that mortality rates from diabetes in remote and very remote areas were twice as high compared to those in the urban regions. Moreover, diabetic patients in the lowest socioeconomic areas were more than twice as likely to die from the disease and its associated complications than those living in the highest socioeconomic areas (77 and 33 per 10,000 respectively) [1]. These health disparities prompted a closer look into the quality of local inpatient diabetes management in order to identify the changes required to improve diabetes care in a rural community. Methods: A retrospective audit assessing all adult patients (aged over 18) with diabetes between August and October 2019 who attended treatment in one rural health centre in Queensland, Australia was conducted. Information was obtained from paper based patient records, especially the state-wide insulin subcutaneous order and blood glucose chart. Results: There were 122 diabetic inpatients during the study period. 9 were excluded due to poor documentation on the details of diabetes or insulin management. Men comprised 62% (n = 75) of the patients and the chronicity of diabetes in the majority of the patients was either unknown or undocumented (n = 90). Type 2 diabetes represented 87% (n = 106) of the hospitalisations. There were 64 hospitalisations with diabetes or diabetic related complications as the principal diagnoses. Among these, 7% (n = 8) were due to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) or severe hyperglycaemia with ketosis, while 2 patients (1.7%) presented with hypoglycaemia. The majority (32%, n = 36) of the diabetic related complications were due to an underlying infection. Throughout inpatient stay, half (50.4%, n = 57) of the patients experienced one or more hyperglycaemic episodes and 14% (n = 16) experienced at least one hypoglycaemic events. The prevalence of inappropriate management of hyperglycaemia during this period was observed to be 21%. This was due to prescription errors i.e. usual insulin not prescribed (n = 7), erroneous insulin type (n = 3) and unsigned order (n = 4). Persistent hyperglycaemia, defined locally by blood glucose level (BGL) > 12 mmol/L was not managed ideally in 10 patients due to either lack of communication between staffs and physicians or failure to make changes when notifications were relayed. Patients were followed up until the discharge phase. Nearly half (41.8%, n = 51) of the patients were found to have no clearly documented follow up plans albeit the limitations of paper based clinical records should be taken into account. Conclusion: The management of diabetes in the rural communities can be challenging. Communication between the different layers of healthcare providers is imperative to ensure hyperglycaemia among hospitalised patients is not mismanaged. Clear documentation of insulin doses and BGL levels on paper records as well as regular education and shared clinical experience on insulin titration in response to abnormal BGL levels by clinicians are strategies to improve diabetes care. Reference: 1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2021. Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes - Australian Institute Of Health And Welfare. [online] Available at: <https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/diabetes/diabetes/contents/hospital-care-for-diabetes/type-2-diabetes> [Accessed 6 January 2021].

Trial of a New Diabetes Education Model: Closing the Gap in Health Disparity for People with Diabetes

Background: Quality measures relating to diabetes care in America have not improved between 2005 and 2016, and have plateaued even in areas that outperform national statistics. New approaches to diabetes care and education are needed and are especially important in reaching populations with significant barriers to optimized care. Methods: A pilot quality improvement study was created to optimize diabetes education in a clinic setting with a patient population with significant healthcare barriers. Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES) were deployed in a team-based model with flexible scheduling and same-day education visits, outside of the traditional framework of diabetes education, specifically targeting practices with underperforming diabetes quality measures, in a clinic setting significantly impacted by social determinants of health. Results: A team-based and flexible diabetes education model decreased hemoglobin A1C for individuals participating in the project (and having a second A1C measured) by an average of −2.3%, improved Minnesota Diabetes Quality Measures (D5) for clinicians participating in the project by 5.8%, optimized use of CDCES, and reduced a high visit fail rate for diabetes education. Conclusions: Diabetes education provided in a team-based and flexible model may better meet patient needs and improve diabetes care metrics, in settings with a patient population with significant barriers.

Opportunities to improve diabetes care in the hemodialysis unit: A cohort study in Ontario, Canada

Background: Patients with diabetes receiving chronic in-centre hemodialysis face healthcare challenges. We examined the prevalence of gaps in their diabetes care, explored regional differences, and determined predictors of care gaps. Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective study between January 1 2016 and January 1 2018 in Ontario Canada. We included adults with prevalent diabetes mellitus receiving in-centre hemodialysis as of January 1 2018 and examined the proportion with 1) insufficient or excessive glycemic monitoring, 2) suboptimal screening for diabetes-related complications (retinopathy and cardiovascular screening), 3) hospital encounters for hypo- or hyperglycemia, and 4) hospital encounters for hypertension in the 2 years prior (January 1 2016-January 1 2018). We then identified patient, provider and health system factors associated with >1 care gap and used multivariable logistic regression to determine predictors. Further, we used Geographic Information Systems to explore spatial variation in gaps. Results: There were 4,173 patients with diabetes receiving in-centre hemodialysis. Mean age was 67 years, 39% were women and the majority were of lower socioeconomic status. Approximately 42% of patients had >1 diabetes care gap, the most common being suboptimal retinopathy screening (53%). Significant predictors of more than one gap included younger age, female sex, shorter duration of diabetes, dementia, fewer specialist visits and not seeing a physician for diabetes. There was evidence of spatial variation in care gaps across our region. Conclusions: There are opportunities to improve diabetes care in patients receiving in-centre hemodialysis, particularly screening for retinopathy. Focused efforts to bring diabetes support to high-risk individuals might improve their care and outcomes.