Diabetes Quality Improvement Project

2003

The Pediatric Diabetes Program at MMI provides care to approximately 500 children across the state of Nebraska. It provides services in Omaha, Lincoln, Hastings, Norfolk and North Platte. In 2001, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services System Diabetes Control Program provided a small contract to MMI to fund quality improvement (QI) activities for the pediatric diabetes program. The initial QI project was implementation of a pediatric flow sheet and development of a computerized data base to monitor outcomes of care. In 2002, the QI project’s goal was to increase the number of children with diabetes who had completed the immunizations recommended by CDC, i.e., pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, varicella vaccine (for children who have not had chicken pox), and a yearly influenza vaccine. For 2003, plans are to initiate an educational effort to explain the “ABC’s of Diabetes,” i.e., the link between diabetes and heart disease. For this effort, the “A” refers to hemoglobin A1c; the “B” refers to blood pressure; and the “C” refers to cholesterol levels. We will be using educational material developed by the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) and monitoring our data base to ensure that all children with diabetes obtain a hemoglobin A1C and a blood pressure at each regular visit and a lipid panel with appropriate education and follow-up if abnormalities are noted.

Quality Improvement; Childhood Diabetes

Performing Research or Evaluation

Quality Assurance, Health-Related Activities

Family Members/Caregivers

None

State

N/A