Service users with diabetes in an acute inpatient setting

Abstract

This article aimes to review eight of the nine care processes reviewed in 2011/2012 in an acute psychiatric inpatient setting with standards derived from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Data were collected from the electronic records system for all the inpatients admitted in one week of December 2013 against the selected audit standards. Sixty-six service users were identified out of a total of 508 inpatients. Ninety-five percent of the service users had their HbA1c levels documented (a significant improvement from 64% in the previous audit). There was a slight improvement in the number of service users having their total cholesterol levels documented. Serum creatinine levels were documented in all service users, as compared to 82% in the previous audit. The documentation of blood pressure increased from 82% in the previous audit to 97%, and 38% had evidence of an eye check in the previous 12 months. This is a huge improvement on the previous audit (8%). Foot assessments with documentation of pulses checked in (33%) and vibration in (23%) was an improvement from the (11%) in the previous audit. Improvements continued to be seen in screening for diabetes, weight, body mass index and care planning. The assessment tool needs to be integrated into the clinical computer system to improve the collection and recording of data. Staff education regarding the importance of foot care and eye screening and ongoing training in diabetes care, medications and insulin is also important.