The Use of Printed Information for Improving HgbA1c in Uncontrolled Diabetics at MHC

Diabetes is a significant contributor to poor health in the United States. Some patients are sufficiently self motivated to improve control of their disease while others need more external support and assistance. This project seeks to identify those who have fallen out of the recommended target, average glucose and assist them in achieving validated goals for glucose control. Creating an AVS for use by all members of the clinic is a sustainable intervention that will continue after the project is complete; something that is not found in many CQI interventions. Patients with moderate control of their diabetes seemed to respond best to this intervention while patients with very poor control (HgbA1c > 10) had a worsening of the HgbA1c instead of improvement. Future projects should likely focus on these patients. In addition successful completion of AIM statement despite no additional benefit seen in all diabetics at MHC likely resulted from not including patients with currently well controlled diabetes in the study.