Inviting the right people to the party: Model practice for state-wide engagement to prevent diabetes

An estimated 86 million Americans aged 20 years or older have prediabetes. The vast majority do not know they have it. The health and economic consequences of prediabetes have an impact on patients as well as health care professionals, health care systems, payers and employers. A burden of this magnitude demands strategy and action from all sectors.

The American Medical Association (AMA) is committed to improve the public health of the nation by bringing physicians together with communities, and public and private sector organizations to prevent and achieve measurable improvements in health outcomes, particularly as it related to prediabetes. This long-term commitment focuses on health outcomes, improving medical care, and on strengthening links between the clinic and community through novel strategies and collaborations.

To actively address the prediabetes epidemic, the AMA and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) embarked upon a strategic initiative at the state level, beginning in the state of Michigan. This multipronged approach seeks to achieve greater stakeholder engagement while also ensuring action and sustainability.

This session will provide an overview of the Michigan initiative; describe a model of state engagement that includes traditional and nontraditional stakeholders from various sectors coming together for a state-wide meeting; report on the action plan that came as a result of the meeting; and describe how the AMA and NACDD are continuing to work with the state of Michigan and beyond to foster continued progress.