SARHA: So welcome back to the Southeast Ohio Quality Improvement Hub video series. Today we are joined by Karie Cook, who is director of Operations here at OUHCOM for the Diabetes Institute. Our topic today is going to be on patient education for people with diabetes, and we have visited this once before with Dr. Healy. And what we wanted to do was really clarify what education options we have for patients who may have diabetes and be at risk for diabetes or who have diabetes. So we're gonna define all of this to make it clear on on what the referral should be. Okay. Alright. So Karie Cook, the big question is can you give us definitions of DSMES versus what we call DPP? So diabetes self-management education versus the Diabetes Prevention Program. KARIE: Yes. So the difference is kind of in the name. If we're looking at DPP or the Diabetes Prevention Program. That is for people who do not yet have diabetes. So they're at risk for developing diabetes. Maybe they've been diagnosed with pre-diabetes. So those folks are gonna qualify for our diabetes prevention Program. SARAH: Wonderful. So that's the DPP, people who have not yet been diagnosed but are at risk of developing. KARIE: Right. SARAH: Diabetes. Okay. KARIE: And then the diabetes self-management education is for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes. So those people who need a little bit more, um, education, assistance, support in managing their diabetes, the class really is focused on giving people knowledge, skills, and confidence that they need. To manage their diabetes. SARAH: Okay. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about the classes. So what did the DSMES classes look like versus a DPP class? So maybe we start with the diabetes prevention again. Since we start with that. So a DPP class, what does that look like? KARIE: The DPP series is actually an entire year long. So folks who are committing to that or committing to 12 months of support by a lifestyle coach. They're gonna meet virtually with the coach. Which is great because that really means we can serve anybody regardless of the area that they live in. Okay. They're gonna meet virtually with a lifestyle coach. They're gonna look at lifestyle changes that they can make. They're gonna decrease their risk of developing diabetes. This is in a group setting. But, they do receive additional support to individualize that care as they go through the series of classes through that 12 month period. SARAH: Okay. That's cool. Alright, so that's the diabetes prevention program for people who are at risk but have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes. KARIE: Right. SARAH: So tell me then about the DSMES, what that looks like. KARIE: That's a three to four session series, so much shorter. Um, but focuses again on very tangible things that people with diabetes need to know in order to enhance their management. So that's gonna cover, uh, blood sugar monitoring. Reducing complications, nutrition, physical activity, medications, really giving them tangible, um, things that they can act on in order to help manage their diabetes. SARAH: So are both of these group classes then? KARIE: The diabetes education, the DSMES. Is either group or in person. SARAH: Oh, Cool. Okay. KARIE: And it can be virtual as well. So really there's a, a range of options with that. SARAH: Okay. And do you have, um, is there an option for personal attention in both of those? KARIE: Yes. SARAH: I think you said for the DPP. KARIE: Absolutely. Yeah. It was really, we focus on what the people need, where they're at and meet them there and then help them move on to the next step. SARAH: Excellent. That's, that's excellent. Is there anything else that you would like to talk about in the realm of diabetes education? So is there any particular person that, um, would be a part of this programming or leading this programming? KARIE: So we have on staff here at the Diabetes Institute, we have registered nurses. And one of those registered nurses is also a certified diabetes care and education specialist. So both of them have received training and are qualified to implement both of the programs that we have. Um, and that really just gives 'em that, you know, the extra leg up and skills in helping people meet what their diabetes management goals are. SARAH: That's excellent. So what does it cost to do these programs through the Diabetes Institute? KARIE: That's a great question and because one of our goals is to make sure that our programs are as accessible as possible, we offer these free of charge so anybody can be referred that qualifies for the programs and we'll offer the classes without any cost. SARAH: Fantastic. So offered free at no charge for DSMES and DPP through the Diabetes Institute? KARIE: Correct. SARAH: And so for the Diabetes Institute specifically. How would a provider refer a patient to you? So there's a number of ways it can be done. And no matter how the, the individual is referred, we always take that referral, assess the patient and make sure that we get them plugged into the right class. So, um, if, uh, actually a person can self-refer. SARAH: Oh, That's cool. Okay. KARIE: So if they're interested in our classes, they can get on our website, find the information, and we'll make sure we get them plugged in. But for a provider to refer to us, we do have a referral form that they can use or providers can refer to us through their individual referral systems. So for those um, providers who are at the Physicians Group of Southeast Ohio, for example, they're gonna refer to their care manager who will then refer to us. SARAH: Nice. That's excellent. I also know that with Ohio Health, they also have a diabetes care management referral system. I'm not sure where the DI plugs into that. Um, if that comes to you or if you are a piece of that. But I do know Ohio Health has a care management for diabetes and they also have a diabetes navigator. I believe she is a dietician. Um, Maria Coyle Who is a local person actually that does help, um, manage those patients with diabetes and she's part of that referral, so. Excellent. So those are a couple different ways for referral. So if a provider wants to refer directly to the DI is that referral form available on your website? KARIE: It's not available on our website, but they can get it by connecting with us. Just sending us an email or giving us a phone call, we can get that to them. SARAH: Fantastic. Okay. That might be really convenient for some people. Excellent. So we talked about the difference between DSMES and DP Prevention versus education for someone who already has diabetes. We've talked about a diabetes navigator. And also how to refer to these specific programs. Mm-hmm. Is there anything else that you'd like to share with us about any of these programs or other thoughts? KARIE: I think, I think if we're looking at diabetes education, and, and you may have covered this when you spoke with Dr. Healy, but there's, you know, some key times for folks to be referred to diabetes education classes. And that's gonna be when they're diagnosed. Annually, if there's any type of complicating factors that arise for them, any type of, um, major life changes that come along their way that are gonna really impact their diabetes management. It's important that those folks are, again, referred for diabetes self-management education, just to help keep them, um, you know, on, on top of their diagnosis, on top of their management of that because we all change and grow and so it's important that your diabetes management plan changes and grows with you. SARAH: That's fantastic. Dr. Healy did talk about that and I'm happy that we revisited that. So the times to refer again are, um, or at diagnosis would be one annually or if complications or life changes arise would be another time to revisit. I think that's excellent. That's a great thing to revisit. KARIE: Yeah. SARAH: Thank you Karie Cook. KARIE: Yeah, You're welcome. Absolutely. SARAH: It Was great talking with you today. KARIE: You too. SARAH: I hope, I hope this has been educational for all of those watching and I hope everyone has a, a fantastic day and we'll see you again on the next Southeast Ohio QI Hub video series.