Diabetes nurse case management: an effective tool.
OBJECTIVE
In March 2000, a large tertiary military medical treatment facility on the east coast implemented a diabetes nurse case management program to coordinate care for patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 or type 2 and a hemoglobin A1c value of 8.0% or greater. Although proven successful for patients while enrolled in the program, there was a lack of research that evaluated how successful patients were at continuing diabetes self-management once discharged. This study evaluated glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (A1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in patients at admission, discharge, and 6 months following discharge from the program.


METHODS
A retrospective medical record review of laboratory data was evaluated using descriptive statistics and paired t-test.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant reductions in A1c and TC values from admission to discharge were achieved, which the patients maintained 6 months following discharge. There was also a significant reduction in LDL value from admission to 6 months following discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the value of nurse case management for patients with diabetes.
Mullen
Barbara Ann
BA
Naval Ambulatory Care Center, Groton, CT, USA.
Kelley
Patricia Ann Watts
PA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009731:Nursing Audit; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012648:Self Care
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin