The Center's Programs


Interventions to Improve Health Care Systems

In addition to providing opportunities for professional diabetes education, the Center is committed to improving the systems in which diabetes care occurs and the community resources which support good diabetes self-care. The Center has recently completed five years of intensive program development and implementation in connection with the Virginia Diabetes Control Project (DCP) which is administered by the Virginia Department of Health's Division of Chronic Disease Prevention/Nutrition. Center staff are now involved in helping to develop a Virginia Diabetes Council, a new organization which will implement priority areas of action to reduce the burden of diabetes in Virginia.

Education for Diabetes Care Providers

The Center offers both basic and advanced educational programs for diabetes care providers. Basic education programs are composed of the essentials in diabetes care and education. They are targeted to providers who have limited responsibility for diabetes patient care and education. Advanced education programs are appropriate for diabetes care providers who have significant responsibility for diabetes patient care and education, and who already have a grounding in basic diabetes education and management. Educational programs ranging in length from one to four days can be arranged upon request. Prior to the program, the participants are asked to complete a needs assessment which is used to plan the content. The program is further individualized to meet the needs implicit in the group's professional background, level of expertise, and practice setting.

Education for Medical Residents

Most diabetes patients are cared for by primary care providers trained in family practice or internal medicine. However, medical residents in these specialties typically receive a very limited amount of education in diabetes care during the course of their residencies. For the past 12 years, the Center has offered intensive one or two-day diabetes education programs for third year family practice residents covering a broad range of issues in diabetes management. The two most recent programs have involved residents from the University of Virginia and the Medical College of Virginia. It continues to be offered yearly by special arrangement for either family practice or internal medicine residents. The next program is tentatively scheduled for November 20, 1999. The agenda for the most recent program, held on April 17, 1999 can be obtained as an Acrobat (.pdf) file by clicking here. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, a free copy is available from Adobe by clicking here.

Diabetes Patient Education Program Development

The purpose of Diabetes Patient Education Program Development is to assist community hospitals to develop high quality diabetes patient care and education programs or to improve existing programs. The focus is on the process of program development, with special emphasis on the unique history, characteristics, constraints, and advantages which apply to the participating hospital. At the conclusion of the program, participants will have developed a written mission statement, goals, and objectives which are consistent with the ADA Program Recognition process. The Center often provides basic or advanced professional education programs for hospital staff as an adjunct to Diabetes Patient Education Program Development. A more complete description of this offering can be obtained as an Acrobat (.pdf) file by clicking here. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, a free copy is available from Adobe by clicking here.