Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases among American adults, accounting for nearly 20 percent of Medicare health care expenditures. These expenditures can be attributed to long-term complications resulting from diabetes. Some of the most significant long-term complications include blindness, renal failure and diffuse cardiovascular disease.
Controlling diabetes is now a more attainable goal because of the increased availability of effective medications and insulin regimens. In an effort to facilitate better diabetes control, national medical organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Family Physicians establish guidelines for the standard of care for diabetes. To date, such standards of care for the diabetic patient include: regular glycosylated hemoglobin testing (HbA1c), annual fasting lipid profiles, regular urine testing for microalbuminuria and blood pressure control targets of under 130/80.
The following indicators provide performance minimums for the quality of care delivered to diabetic patients in Arkansas and across our nation:
- Annual HbA1c testing
- Biennial testing of lipid profile
- Biennial retinal eye exam
What's New
Preventive Health Partnership Health Card Kit
The American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association have created a “health test card” designed for use in a clinical setting to facilitate communication between a patient and a provider about recommended health tests and to increase the number of people being screened for chronic diseases.
Each “Kit” contains male and female health test cards, an interactive piece intended to be used in a clinical setting to facilitate an exchange between a patient and a provider in an effort to: 1) increase a patient’s knowledge of appropriate screenings; 2) increase the public’s understanding about the clinical role for prevention; and 3) increase the number of people being screened. The care contains health test recommended for average risk adults by the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association. In addition each kit contains: 1) a health card point of service display stand stand, used to keep cards organized within an office setting; 2) health card take-home tear-away pads, which contain the same basic information as the health cards and allow clinicians to give patients a “sheet” to take home instead of the health cards; and 3) a health card wall-mount poster, which is a replica of the tear-away pad to hang in the clinician office/exam room.
These materials are free to clinician offices, although actual shipping and handling fees do apply. To order the health cards and supporting materials, please visit www.everydaychoices.org/card. This site also has links to technical assistance and additional patient-centered materials developed by the three organizations. Please contact the Preventive Health Partnership at cardsupport@cancer.org or 866-931-1082 for questions or comments.