The Clinic Network is in its second year of a Diabetes Prevention Program grant that was started in association with the American College of Preventive Medicine – National Diabetes Prevention Program Demonstration Project. Valley Medical Center is one of the three organizations in the United States selected to test and evaluate innovative approaches to identify and engage patients at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. The work has been a collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Seattle.

Data: YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program Referral Data Sep 1, 2020 - Mar 31, 2020

Lindsey Whitney, RN, BSN, Ambulatory Quality Manager

Seattle U Graduate Student Project: YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program - Identifying Barriers to Enrollment

Lindsey Whitney, RN, BSN, Ambulatory Quality Manager

In January we launched the Identifying Barriers pilot project with three graduate students from Seattle University. The purpose of this project was to identify barriers to enrollment in the target population (Black and Hispanic women). 28 providers were included in the pilot and were asked to talk to their patients who refused referral about participation in the project. Patients who consented to be involved in the project were then contacted by one of the graduate nursing students and interviewed over the phone. The students were able to complete interviews with 10 patients. The information gathered during these interviews is currently being analyzed to determine barriers to enrollment and will be used to improve the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program referral and enrollment process.

A huge thank you to all the providers who participated in this project! We would also like to thank our Doctor of Nursing students for all their hard work: Shokouh Pardakhtim, Randy Claussen, and Negin Kourehpazan.

Primary Care Quality Improvement Committee: Prediabetes PDSA

Lindsey Whitney, RN, BSN, Ambulatory Quality Manager

In February, our Primary Care Quality Improvement Committee began working on the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA), Prediabetes Disease Management. The aim of this PDSA is to achieve a 5% improvement of patients 1) who are screened for prediabetes, 2) who have prediabetes added to their problem list, and 3) who have an appropriate intervention (referral to a DPP program or prescription for metformin). All primary care clinics have been hard at work, developing strategies and taking actions to significantly improve all three measures. This work will wrap up in the coming weeks, and the lessons learned from this PDSA will help inform our care for prediabetic patients moving forward. Thank you to everyone for their hard work on this!

Lifestyle Medicine to Launch a DPP Program:

Staci Lyons, PT, Lifestyle Medicine and Wellness Services Director

Lifestyle Medicine applied for a virtual Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) platform launch using the CDC-approved Diabetes Prevention Program curriculum. With Healthier Here grant funding, VMC collaborated with a third party to develop the engagement platform and data management portal necessary to deliver this curriculum virtually in a cost-effective manner. The program coordinator and lifestyle coaches have received training and the t the first class started with a cohort of patients from the MyHealth Clinic May 4. Work is underway to add the Lifestyle Medicine option to the current DPP referral so that providers can select the best location for their patients. Lifestyle Medicine has also launched ongoing free one-hour information sessions to highlight all their programs available for health improvement and disease management. These sessions are called “HealthyCare Information Sessions” and are offered to the public and anyone receiving the “Ambulatory Referral to Lifestyle Medicine.” This is a great way to promote shared decision-making by patients to improve engagement and commitment to behavior change.