Q&A: Strategies for helping diabetic patients

Q: Our facility sees a lot of patients dealing with diabetes and diabetic complications. Do you have any advice for helping these patients during their stay or after discharge?

A: Comprehensive strategies to help improve care for patients with diabetes can be numerous and include the following:

• Implementing a formalized process to ensure post-discharge calls are made. This can ensure that patients fill their prescriptions and keep their medical appointments, as well as monitor whether services that were in the hospital discharge plan have been ordered and set up.
• Being aware of community case management services in your area. Develop a relationship with case managers across the continuum to maintain your network and knowledge of what services and programs are available.
• Staying abreast of the latest clinical guidelines. The American Diabetes Association recently updated its standards of care. Information is available at www.diabetes.org/diabetescare.
• Focusing on social determinants of health and how your organization can support community needs, for example, by addressing food insecurity and providing health education and housing.

Editor's note: This question was answered by Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM, CHRI, vice president of physician advisory solutions at R1 RCM, Inc., in Chicago. The answer originally appeared in the February issue of Case Management Monthly.