Diabetes Services Update

Diabetes Services provides inpatient bedside education at WellStar Cobb and Kennestone hospitals for patients newly diagnosed with diabetes, high-risk diabetes, or whose home self-management of their diabetes needs updating and reinforced. The patients are given a new blood glucose monitor and instructed how to use it with a return demonstration from the patient. The patient is also provided a Diabetes Survival Skills book or CD, and given instructions on safe diabetes care until they can follow-up with their primary physician. The Survival Skills curriculum reviews treatment of diabetes, monitoring, target blood ranges, hypo/hyperglycemia signs and symptoms and how to treat. Nutrition and diet information is also taught. Diabetes medications are reviewed, including insulin self-administration.

The goal of inpatient education is for the patient to feel confident in their diabetes care at home whether they feel sick or well. Outpatient diabetes education classes are also a primary goal, and each patient who receives inpatient education is scheduled for outpatient education as well.

To reach a diabetes educator at WellStar Cobb Hospital, call 770-732-4119. To reach a diabetes educator at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, call 770-793-7810 or 770-793-7836.

WellStar Diabetes Services

WellStar’s Diabetes Services provides a nationally recognized educational program for our diabetes and pre-diabetes population. The diabetes team has registered dietitians and registered nurses, certified in diabetes education (CDE), a licensed master of social work and -support staff. Outpatient classes are taught at WellStar Kennestone, Douglas and Paulding hospitals and soon-to-come WellStar Health Park locations. Free support groups are available in multiple locations throughout the community. To reach any member of this team, or to refer a patient, call 770-793-7828.

 WellStar Diabetes High Risk Disease Management program is a free telephonic program for any patient with an A1C > 8 percent, who has either WellStar Humana or Medicare insurance, and a WellStar physician. The disease management team is staffed by a registered nurse CDE and a licensed master of social work. To reach anyone on this team, or to refer a patient, call 770-793-7823.

WellStar Diabetes Inpatient Education is available at WellStar Cobb and Kennestone hospitals. The staff is comprised of registered nurse CDEs. In addition to educating high risk patients at bedside, the role of the inpatient educators is to promote and administer the system hospital glycemic initiatives. To reach a member of the WellStar Cobb Hospital team, call 770-732-4119.To reach a member of the WellStar Kennestone Hospital team, call 770-793-7810 or 770-793-7836.

WellStar has diabetes teams at all facilities whose focus is to drive and improve the system’s glycemic initiatives. The teams work to improve patient care by promoting best practice through the utilization of the Zynx order sets to standardize care. Kimberly Roberts facilitates the diabetes team and can be contacted at 770-793-7829 or kimberly.roberts@wellstar.org.

Visit the department website on either www.wellstar.org or eSource > Departments > Diabetes Services for further information.

WellStar’s Diabetes Services

Self-management education is a vital part of caring for people with diabetes. Almost 80,000 people diagnosed with diabetes live in WellStar’s market area, and the CDC estimates another 26,000 people in this area have diabetes, but have not been diagnosed.

The 2011 Annual Report and 2012 Program outline Diabetes Services’ commitment to create and continue to deliver the highest quality diabetes education, management and service to individuals in our communities. Approximately 2,500 people with diabetes attended comprehensive self-management classes and annual refresher classes in 2011. Many more participated in pre-diabetes, gestational, high-risk disease management, weight management programs and support groups.

Taking part in WellStar’s diabetes services has many benefits for both the participants and the System:

• There was 70 percent reduction in hospitalizations and the A1C reduction for WellStar as a system continued to trend below the 7 percent recommendation of the American Diabetes Association. 
• Participants expressed their approval of the program with a 97 percent highly-satisfied evaluation. 
• Scores in the top 95th percentile of the Gallup employee engagement survey confirm that the staff members enjoy their work and working environment. 

Formal outpatient education classes are scheduled at WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone and Paulding hospitals, and classes in the new Acworth Health Park will begin in August. There are also free diabetes support groups held at Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone and Paulding hospitals, East Cobb Primary Care and Towne Lake Medical Center. New expanded services include Medical Nutrition Therapy and Medifast®. A physician referral is required for most education classes. Several financial payment options and discount programs continue.

For a copy of the 2011 Annual Diabetes Self-Management Education Review and 2012 Program Plan, please contact Amanda Hextell at 770-793-7821 or amanda.hextell@wellstar.org.

Diabetes Team Meetings

March 8 – Wisteria/Jasmine Room, WellStar Cobb Hospital

March 12 – Manchester Room, WellStar Douglas Hospital

March 13 – Garden Room, WellStar Windy Hill Hospital

March 14 – Kennesaw Mountain Room, WellStar Kennestone Hospital

March 15 – Dogwood Room, WellStar Paulding Hospital

All meetings are 12-1 p.m. in the Wisteria/Jasmine Room. Reminders for each meeting will be sent out before the meeting via e-mail. Please note that these meetings are subject to change. You will be notified by e-mail of any changes or cancellations. Please contact Kimberly Roberts at kimberly.roberts@wellstar.org or call 770-793-7829 for more information.

Update from WellStar Inpatient Diabetes Teams

WellStar Inpatient Diabetes Teams have had many achievements this year! Thank you to everyone on these Systemwide teams who have helped push these initiatives through and improved patient care. Here is a list of just a few of the accomplishments:

• Revision of Hypoglycemia Standing Orders 
• Creation and pilot of DKA Insulin Infusion Orders at Cobb Hospital
• Creation of Nursing Education Toolkit and roll-out of nursing education for Zynx Adult Basal Bolus Insulin Orders
• Creation of Physician Education Toolkit and roll out of physician education Zynx Adult Basal Bolus Insulin Order
• Poster presentation second place winner for Quality and Safety – Cobb Insulin Infusion Pilot, Evidence Based Glucose Target Range for Insulin Infusions in the ICU. Second place for Clinical Improvement and Innovation. Evidence Based Practice Tool Kit for Bedside Nurses, Research Conference, Marietta, Ga., September 2011
• Creation of Diabetes Best Practice physician follow-up letter
• Participated in the GHA Glycemic Control Statewide Collaborative
• Created action plans for reducing and eliminating Health Care Acquired Conditions related to Manifestations of Poor Glycemic Control

WellStar Diabetes Services

WellStar Diabetes Services offers a wide variety of services to meet the needs of your diabetes patients.

Classes and programs offered:

• Comprehensive self-management education (10 hour ADA recognized course)
• Gestational diabetes education
• Pre-diabetes education
• Weight management/nutrition education
• Insulin pump and continuous glucose monitoring training
• Inpatient education at WellStar Kennestone and Cobb hospitals performed by diabetes educator best practice nurses
• Free telephonic disease management coaching (high risk patients and all WellStar Humana members)
• Free support groups

Proven Results:

• 71 percent decrease in hospitalizations
• 55 percent decrease in Emergency Room visits
• 19 percent reduction in A1C
• 3 percent average weight loss per eight-week weight management session
• 96 percent patient satisfaction

Services are offered at WellStar Cobb, Douglas, Kennestone and Paulding hospitals. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. A physician order may be required. For more information, please contact Diabetes Services at 770-793-7828.

Physician Lunch and Learn: Insulin Dosing and Titration

WellStar Diabetes Services and Dr. Spencer Welch with Atlanta Diabetes Associates will present a physician lunch and learn about insulin dosing and titration on Sept. 8 and Sept. 13. Lunch will be provided. For details, click "Read more>>."