Revolutionizing Diabetes Care: Exploring Innovative Care Team Models
Following my previous summary of this year’s American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions and synopsis of the prominence of Continuous Glucose Monitoring at this conference, next up we want to highlight the transition from more traditional in-person, physician-led models of care to hybrid or virtual, care team-led models.
By incorporating multidisciplinary healthcare professionals, such as nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and behavioral specialists, care teams are enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of managing diabetes. The pandemic forced virtual care to the forefront and now we are seeing more data be presented on the efficacy and challenges of these models. In this blog, we will delve into three exemplary care team-based approaches presented at the ADA Scientific Sessions, highlighting their benefits and shedding light on why this paradigm shift makes sense.
The Collaborative Care Model for Diabetes:
The Collaborative Care Model is an innovative approach that brings together healthcare professionals from various disciplines to collaboratively manage diabetes patients. This model focuses on effective communication and shared decision-making, ensuring that each member of the care team contributes their expertise. For instance, a physician may handle medication adjustments, while a dietitian provides personalized meal plans, and a pharmacist addresses medication adherence and potential drug interactions. This comprehensive approach not only improves patient outcomes but also enhances patient satisfaction by ensuring their needs are met holistically.
The rationale behind transitioning to a care team-led model lies in the complexity of diabetes management. Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires a multifaceted approach, involving lifestyle modifications, medication management, and psychological support. By leveraging the expertise of a diverse care team, patients receive comprehensive care that addresses these various aspects, resulting in improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.
Telehealth-based Care Team Model:
The advent of telehealth has revolutionized healthcare delivery, and the diabetes care landscape is no exception. The telehealth-based care team model combines the convenience and accessibility of virtual visits with the expertise of a multidisciplinary care team. Patients can remotely connect with their healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, and diabetes educators, utilizing video conferencing, messaging platforms, and mobile applications.
This model empowers patients by providing real-time access to their care team, allowing for continuous monitoring, timely adjustments to treatment plans, and immediate intervention in case of emergencies. Telehealth also eliminates geographical barriers, ensuring patients in remote areas or those with limited mobility can receive specialized diabetes care. Moreover, virtual consultations reduce the burden on healthcare facilities, freeing up resources for patients who require in-person visits.
Community-based Care Team Model:
The community-based care team model recognizes the influence of social determinants of health on diabetes management. This approach involves integrating community health workers, peer support groups, and community organizations into the care team. Community health workers, who have a deep understanding of the local community and its challenges, play a vital role in connecting patients with resources, promoting health literacy, and providing ongoing support.
By leveraging the strength of the community, this model addresses the barriers faced by individuals with limited access to healthcare facilities or those from marginalized populations. It emphasizes prevention, education, and lifestyle modifications within familiar community settings. Engaging patients in their community encourages long-term behavior change and fosters a support system that helps them navigate the challenges of diabetes management successfully.
Remote Patient Monitoring Combined with Care Team Models Makes for a High Tech, High Touch Approach
In recent years, technology has made diabetes management in between care team meetings—whether face-to-face or a video visit--more of a partnership between providers and patients, enabling greater glucose data visibility for clinicians and a greater sense of support for patients.
New connected glucometers or Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs), as well as connected devices to monitor comorbid conditions like Hypertension, have not only helped patients keep better track of their glucose, but made it easier for care teams to understand trends in a patient’s data.
Rimidi’s remote patient monitoring solution for diabetes takes diabetes management further than other solutions, by combining patient-generated data from connected devices like those mentioned above with relevant clinical data in EHR systems, allowing the entire care team to see all of the important data for diabetes care–medications, latest laboratory results, and diagnoses–without having to click through multiple places in the EHR.
Contact us today to learn how Rimidi's platform can support your collaborative care team approach to diabetes management.
