An initiative to improve diabetes care standards in healthcare organizations serving minorities.
This study was designed to assess changes of diabetes care standards in healthcare organizations that participated in 2-year initiative to improve diabetes care and expand outreach in minority communities.



An independent sample of the medical records of adults with type 2 diabetes was randomly drawn at 3 points of time (N = 829). Rates of compliance with 20 selected measures of standards of basic diabetes care were measured and compared over time.



Significant improvements in compliance rates from baseline to the end point were found in 11 measures including annual hemoglobin A1C testing (65.8% to 76.3%), annual lipid profile (33.8% to 49.1%), and biannual lower extremity examination (40.0% to 56.3%).



Improvements in diabetes care were credited with giving providers feedback on their compliance and increasing support of patient self-care, especially through tailoring outreach and services to minorities.
Hosler
Akiko S
AS
Bureau of Chronic Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance, New York State Department of Health, Albany
Godley
Kathryn
K
Department of Endocrinology, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York
Rowland
Daniel H
DH
The Early Intervention Program, New York State Department of Health, Albany
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations / Q000592:standards; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012648:Self Care / Q000592:standards; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin