World Diabetes Day

The American Diabetes Association’s Annual World Diabetes Day Symposium was held Nov. 14, 2012 in Grand Prairie and offered a summary of local diabetes health information. Highlights included:

Dr. Meghan Jardine presented Parkland Health & Hospital System’s “Healthy Living with Diabetes Program.” According to Dr. Jardine, more than 2,000 patients participate in the program, which addresses diabetes education. The program is located within Parkland’s clinics where patients visit primary care providers. Clinical outcomes of the program include significantly enhanced control of HbA1c levels. Dr. Jardine would like to expand the program to the more than 35,000 Parkland patients suffering diabetes.

Dr. Ron Anderson, senior advisor at Parkland, updated attendees on Medicaid waiver funding planned for North Texas. The community’s health needs assessments were highlighted. According to Dr. Anderson, obesity and diabetes prevention reveal many of the health needs for the region. He said multiple programs addressing these needs will be available through Medicaid Waiver funding in 2013.

Dr. Noel Santini shared a new Parkland strategy to improve diabetes management for geriatric patients. He detailed a chronic care model that involves family, community and health systems surrounding the patient.  A readmission model is used to identify diabetic patients with a high risk of readmission. Electronic notification for teams to address high-risk patients is also in place, according to Dr. Santini.  He said 23 percent of patients in the program get post-discharge clinic appointments within 15 days. Only 5.9% of non-participating patients achieve the same visit access. He also said the readmission of program patients to Parkland in less than 30 days is 2%, compared to 5.3% for non-program patients. The results demonstrate better care for patients and a reduced cost for both patients and Parkland.

Steve Love, president/CEO of the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council, and Steve Jacob, editor of D Healthcare Daily, discussed the need for Texas Medicaid expansion under federal health care reform.  Love stated expansion of the program would provide funds to cover adults who have never been covered by Texas Medicaid before. According to Love, failure to expand Medicaid will reject $70 billion available from the federal government. Those dollars will be spent in other states if Texas does not participate. Jacob said the Urban Institute reports $52 billion would come to Texas with Medicaid expansion, with an investment of $2 billion by Texas. Such a financial return is significant and desired by most hospitals.