Category: Federal Forum Posters

Purpose: It is the position of the American Diabetes Association and other expert committees that all persons with diabetes receive diabetes self-management education at diagnosis and as needed thereafter. Current inpatient diabetes self-management education is not standardized throughout Lebanon VAMC. It is possible that patients newly diagnosed with diabetes or those with a significant change in their health status may be returning home without the proper training. This project is to create an interdisciplinary process for one medical unit that will standardize education for patients with diabetes. If successful, this process will be expanded to all medical floors at Lebanon VAMC.


Methods: An assessment of the current diabetes education process will be completed to identify areas for improvement. Staff will be surveyed on their understanding of current procedures as well as their baseline diabetes management knowledge. These surveys will be evaluated to identify knowledge deficits which will then be corrected with supplemental education. Staff will also be asked to identify barriers to providing patients with diabetes self-management education. An interdisciplinary team will work together to problem-solve these barriers. A standardized process will then be created to provide diabetes self-management education for all patients with diabetes. As part of this process, a provider order set will be created which will require patients to “op-out” of routine care. A checklist will also be created that will include important patient education topics to review before patients are discharged from the facility. Diabetes self-management education kits will be provided and stored on the unit to allow easier access to teaching materials. Once implemented, staff will be surveyed again on their understanding of the new procedures and their diabetes management knowledge.


Results: not applicable


Conclusion: not applicable

Primary Author(s)

• Rachel Leone

  – Pharmacy Student, University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Pembroke, NH