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Using the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care to Support the Development of a Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Examination Policy Statement
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
: 2:50 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.
As discussed in the 2014 report Variation in the Care of Surgical Conditions: Diabetes and Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care Series, a certain level of importance exists in measuring variation in simple, inexpensive preventive measures across the nation. The measures described in the report focus on four key goals, one being “foot care aimed at limiting the presence of ulcerations”. The Dartmouth Atlas currently has data available for three preventive services for diabetic patients (blood lipid testing, eye examination and hemoglobin A1c testing) across regions of the US. Data in the Dartmouth Atlas are lacking regarding the preventive service of a comprehensive diabetic foot exam, making it difficult to demonstrate the importance this preventive strategy has on outcomes in the high-risk diabetic population. It is with a comprehensive diabetic foot exam policy statement that we can ensure patients will be referred appropriately and timely for these preventive services. Our primary care colleagues can engage patients with preventive measures and identify those diabetic patients at highest risk of suffering pedal complications and provide referrals to podiatric providers for a comprehensive diabetic foot exam. It is with improved prevention strategies that we can make a difference in the lives of high-risk diabetic patients.
Learning Areas:
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Learning Objectives:
Discuss how using the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care can improve understanding of our health care system’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Demonstrate how utilization of Dartmouth Atlas’ variation of practice information can assist with the development of a policy statement to improve the identification rate of high-risk populations by podiatric providers to reduce amputation risk.
Keyword(s): Diabetes, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a DPM and MPH degree and continue to work in the area of Public Health. I understand healthcare from a societal perspective and I was the first-ever American Podiatric Medical Association Public Health Fellow at TDI. I have a years of experience is showcasing the intersection of podiatry and public health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
