Parkland’s Global Diabetes Program improves patient access, care
According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 30 million
Americans have diabetes, and accessing care can be a major challenge.
Diabetes is difficult to manage and patients often need frequent
interaction with medical providers, but the average patient spends
less than six hours a year with a health care provider for diabetes
management.
To address the challenge locally, Parkland has developed an innovative
new program that “will transform diabetes care in Dallas County,” said
Luigi Meneghini, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of
Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Executive Director of the new
Global Diabetes Program.
“Our mission is to educate, support and encourage a healthy lifestyle
free of disease complications for people with diabetes,” Dr. Meneghini
said. “The Global Diabetes Program will provide a comprehensive
approach to improve access to clinical care and more closely connect
patients to care in their local communities.”
The program was launched in 2013 with the help of funding provided
by the state’s 1115 waiver. It is patient-centered and multidisciplinary,
meaning that an entire team of physicians, nurses, psychologists,
dietitians, pharmacists, social workers and financial experts rotate around
the patient, rather than the patient adjusting to the needs of the
care providers.
The Global Diabetes Program was developed in collaboration with
Parkland’s Community Oriented Primary Care health centers and the
Division of Endocrinology at UT Southwestern. For more information about the Global Diabetes Program at Parkland,
please call 214.590.5675.
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