Collaborative Effort in Rural North Carolina County Produces Positive Outcomes With a Comprehensive Diabetes Outpatient Program

Abstract

Duplin County, North Carolina, rates in the top third of counties in the state demonstrating morbidity and mortality due to diabetes. It has been estimated that approximately 2070 people in the county have been told they have diabetes and another 2070 people have diabetes but have not been diagnosed. This constitutes 10% of the population. Hospitalization cost and cost to each citizen in Duplin County has continued to rise due to diabetes. A team of healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists through a collaborative effort of different agencies formed a comprehensive diabetes outpatient program in November 1996 based on ADA Standards. Over 400 referrals have been made in a two-year period, from November 1996 to November 1998. The following patient outcomes were monitored: pretest versus post test scores, blood sugar and HgbAlC levels, patient satisfaction, hospitalizations with primary diagnosis of diabetes for the year of 1996 through 1998. The results are as follows: 58% of the participants showed increases in their test scores, 34% of the participants showed improvement in blood sugar or HgbAlC levels, satisfaction surveys revealed ratings of excellent/good 99% of the time, and a 20% reduction in local hospitalization with diabetes as the primary diagnosis. The results of the collaborative effort has demonstrated that through comprehensive diabetes education we can improve patient outcomes, increase disease management skills, and reduce cost.