Open AccessPublic Health Response to Diabetes in Delaware through Partnership, Referral, and the Diabetes Self-Management Program
Author(s) -
D. Post,
A. Rodi,
Stephanie H. Belinske
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
delaware journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2639-6378
DOI - 10.32481/djph.2017.04.006
Subject(s) - referral , diabetes mellitus , general partnership , medicine , public health , diabetes management , family medicine , type 2 diabetes , political science , nursing , endocrinology , law
Diabetes is a major health concern in Delaware, affecting approximately 85,000 adult Delawareans. Diabetes can lead to amputation, blindness, kidney failure, impaired hearing, heart and dental disease, and other complications. The Division of Public Health (DPH) launched a project in collaboration with Quality Insights (QI) to assist physician practices improve their National Quality Forum (NQF) Clinical Quality Measure NQF 0059. QI provides resources and tools to support physicians and their care teams in this quality improvement effort. One initiative invites physician ofce sites to participate in a free service that mails referral letters to their patient population with diabetes. The referral letter encourages patients to enroll in the state's free Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP) which supports lifestyle modication control efforts.