Patient Advocates Launch National Diabetes Treatment Recognition Program

By Jonathan Springston, Editor, Relias Media

Two leading patient health and safety advocacy groups are partnering on a national recognition program aimed at lauding hospitals that excel in treating patients living with diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the Leapfrog Group have launched Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes, a new designation program that highlights U.S. medical facilities that thrive on helping patients manage their diabetes throughout the care continuum.

The program is built on the foundation of the ADA’s recommendations for screening, diagnostic, and therapeutic actions. Leapfrog’s track record of rating hospitals regarding adherence to safety measures will help administrators of this new program ensure medical facilities are properly caring for patients with diabetes during admission, stay, and discharge.

“Patients with diabetes often face heightened risks of serious health complications when visiting hospitals. That is especially true for patients of color, who face additional barriers to care,” said Robert Gabbay, MD, chief scientific and medical officer for the ADA. “There is an immense need to ensure hospitals provide safe, patient-centered care for all people who live with diabetes.”

Patients managing diabetes are an especially vulnerable population. When these patients present, clinicians should check blood sugar, provide education and monitoring services during any inpatient stay, and connect patients to the right services after discharge.

“This program will be a game-changer for families, which is why it is so important to our constituency of employers and purchasers of health care benefits who recognize the special vulnerability of hospitalized people living with diabetes,” said Leah Binder, Leapfrog president and chief executive officer. “They will help employers alert employees and their families who receive this recognition.”

For more on this and related subjects, be sure to read the latest issues of Healthcare Risk Management, Hospital Case Management, Internal Medicine Alert, and Primary Care Reports.