What makes a Good Quality Diabetes Centre?
Actions of Healthcare Professionals
The team of healthcare professionals at a diabetes centre is the key to creating a one-of-a-kind patient experience. At a world-class diabetes centre the healthcare professionals will:
- Treat patients with diabetes as a member of the healthcare team and encourage full participation in their own care.
- Understand and incorporate evidence-based clinical practice guidelines into the care they provide.
- Focus on early diagnosis and preventative care.
- Assist their patients and their families in navigating the healthcare system.
Standards of Practice
Great diabetes centres have standards of practice to ensure excellent patient care. They can be classified into the following categories:
- Outcome Standards: Observable, verifiable effects which indicate that specified intentions or action strategies have been achieved or implemented.
- Process Standards: Performance expectations of those who provide education, which leads to desired client outcomes.
- Structure Standards: Supporting resources (e.g. facilities, equipment, time) essential to the achievement of “Process” and “Outcome” standards.
Implementing Standards in your Practice
- Encourage leadership from professional team members and use self-assessment and reflection tools to assess your practice.
- Provide evidence-based care to your clients, that is based on needs assessments of individuals and communities.
- Use information systems. This can assist the multidisciplinary team in identifying patients that require further intervention and to provide timely and efficient care.
- Constantly improve your practice quality. Identify gaps in care and set goals to continually make your practice more patient-centered. Individual professionals can also do this by attending CME and professional education events.
- Use clinical decision support tools such as the Diabetes Canada clinical practice guidelines or treatment algorithms.
- Have a multidisciplinary team approach. A team approach makes care more patient-centered and efficient. It also leads to increased patient follow-up, which results in improved glycemic control, improved quality of life, and lower risk of diabetes-related complications.
- Continually strive to improve the patient experience at your clinic. This can be achieved through the professionals in your practice using a patient-centered approach as well as having a friendly and efficient administrative team.
- Partner with other resources, services, and supports in your communities related to diabetes.
Focus on the Future
Looking forward is a critical aspect to creating a high quality diabetes centre. This includes teaching the next generation of healthcare professionals, such as endocrinology fellows, student nurses, dietetic interns, and student pharmacists. This also requires a focus on research and health promotion.
Learn more about clinical research
Who is involved in a Diabetes Centre?
A great diabetes centre has an interdisciplinary team with a passion for diabetes care and education.
Endocrinologists – are physicians who specialize in treatment of conditions related to the glands.
Internal Medicine Specialist – are physicians who specialize in the prevention and treatment of adult diseases.
Registered Nurse – has many roles in diabetes care, including being an educator, client advocate, and caregiver.
Pharmacists – are experts in medication management. They are also a key part of health promotion and disease management through education.
Registered Dietitians – have expert knowledge in nutrition and food. They work with diet, disease prevention, and health promotion.
Psychologists – provide behavioural and mental health services and can assist in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases.
CDA Diabetes Standards Recognition Program
The CDA recognition program can provide your clinic with public and professional recognition. This program will allow your clinic to assess learning outcomes, processes for providing education, and the structure of care provided. Applications for recognition must be submitted by November 1st each year.
For more information on the CDA Recognition Program click here
WHO Collaborating Centres
The WHO currently has no set standards for what world-class diabetes centres should look like, however they do have collaborating centres. WHO collaborating centres achieve their designation through their work in diabetes in recognition of international contributions, particularly for projects in developing countries.