title: Inpatient rehabilitation diabetes consult service: a rehabilitation psychology approach to assessment and intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetes clinical practice recommendations call for assessment and intervention on diabetes self-management during inpatient hospitalization. Although diabetes is prevalent in inpatient rehabilitation settings, diabetes self-management has not traditionally been a focus of inpatient rehabilitation psychology care. This is because diabetes is often a secondary diagnosis when an individual is admitted to rehabilitation for an acute event.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors provide a rationale for a role for rehabilitation psychologists in assessing and intervening on the psychosocial, behavioral, and functional self-management needs of individuals with diabetes within the rehabilitation setting. The development of a rehabilitation psychology Inpatient Rehabilitation Diabetes Consultation Service is described. Theoretical and empirical bases for compilation of the assessment and intervention materials are provided. Format and implementation of the service on a university-affiliated inpatient rehabilitation unit is described, with special consideration given to professional issues faced by rehabilitation psychologists and teams.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A flexible consultation model was implemented using a guided diabetes psychosocial assessment with brief educational handouts addressing selected key topics (i.e., hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, blood sugar monitoring, nutrition, physical activity, medication, and, A1C and average blood sugar). The consultation service was feasible and well-accepted by treated individuals and the rehabilitation team.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rehabilitation psychologists are uniquely positioned to address the functional, psychosocial, and behavioral needs of individuals with diabetes. With further research to assess clinical outcomes, this approach may further address practice recommendations for inpatient diabetes care. Moreover, such a diabetes consultation model may be useful on an outpatient rehabilitation basis as well.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kristina P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Schumann
authors.forename: Pegah
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Touradji
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hill-Briggs
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008019:Life Style; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010343:Patient Admission; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*