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Carle Clinic Recognized for Best Practices in Diabetes Care
Urbana-Carle
Clinic Association will use a grant to further improve upon care
already identified as one of the best for patients with diabetes.
The Carle Clinic Diabetes Management Program improves patients’
health through education, clinical expertise and coordinating
services. This program propelled the Clinic to the top among
applicants from throughout the nation.
The American Medical Group
Association (AMGA) awarded the $2,500 grant. Carle Clinic was cited
for integrating medical records, registry, mechanisms for contacting
patients and feedback to physicians. More than 9,000 Carle Clinic
patients are identified as having diabetes.
The Carle Diabetes Registry,
supported by Carle Foundation Hospital and maintained by Chris
Kucera, Health Systems Research Center, is an important part of
efforts to improve the health of these patients. “The Registry
allows us to identify and ensure follow-up of patients that have not
completed necessary periodic lab testing and to monitor whether
patients are achieving recommended goals for diabetic control,” said
John Stoll, MD., Senior Medical Director and VP of Quality at Carle
Clinic.
In the seven years that Carle
has tracked patient data, the percentage of diabetics who have tests
done in a timely manner has increased. Most importantly, there has
been a significant improvement in the control of blood sugar and
cholesterol. As an American Diabetes Association Recognized Program,
Carle Clinic’s Endocrine Department provides both consultations on
difficult cases and offers education on self-management of
diabetes.
“Carle’s Diabetes Management
Program goal for 2006 will be to continue to improve the care of our
patients with diabetes” said Dr. Stoll. AMGA has selected Carle
Clinic to participate in the “Best Practices in Diabetes Care
Learning Collaborative.” Clinics selected as best practice will
share strategies which work to promote patient care. Joining Dr
Stoll in this effort is Dr Kim Kramer, Department Head of Family
Medicine, and Sue Reardon, Director of Primary Care. They will
exchange information with other healthcare facilities in the U.S.
and will work together to improve the health of people living with
diabetes.
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