StemCell Therapy

Additionally, rates of infection, mortality and readmission are 4x, 1.5x and 1.4x greater, respectively.

The question is, are we as a healthcare community doing everything we can to improve these outcomes? Are we paying enough attention to the unique needs of patients with diabetes?

The results of recent nationwide survey indicate we need to do better, and with the shift from volume to value, I would say the question becomes, can we afford not to?

Download the complete survey results here.

The truth is, managing diabetes within our inpatient populations is strife with challenges. This is a large-scale issue and the numbers are growing.

On average, one of every three hospitalized patients -- the majority with diabetes -- requires insulin to control blood glucose during their stay, a medication that although widely prescribed and absolutely necessary is inherently dangerous. Fifty percent of all medication errors involve insulin, including one-third of all fatal medication errors. Insulin is considered a high-alert medication because it has the potential to cause significant patient harm if misused.

Certainly hospitals and health systems face other patient safety challenges, but very few have as substantial an impact on both clinical and financial outcomes. Insulin therapy, whether intravenous or subcutaneous, is both complex and difficult to manage.

When insulin therapy lacks standardization and best practices are not the norm, poorly controlled blood glucose prevails, which can lead to coma, stroke, sepsis, cardiac arrest . . . even death. A recent study by AdventHealth Orlando showed that hospitalized patients who experience severe hypoglycemia (abnormally low blood glucose) incur $10,405 of excess cost per stay and a 61.5% higher readmission rate.

This toll is largely avoidable, but only if hospitals and health systems prioritize glycemic management. The results of this survey underscore there is vast room for improvement.

Download the complete survey results here.

Some of the findings that strike me as concerning include:

The good news is, improving the care of hospitalized patients with diabetes and achieving best practices in glycemic management are attainable goals, especially with the aid of purpose-built technologies such as the eGlycemic Management System.

You are welcome to arrange a complimentary consultation with a Glytec clinical executive to discuss your glycemic management needs and goals. Click here.

Dr. Rhinehart is a diabetologist and Chief Medical Officer of Glytec. He was the first U.S. physician board certified in advanced diabetes management (BC-ADM).

Read this article:
Survey reveals better care needed for hospitalized patients with diabetes - HealthLeaders Media

This entry was posted on October 31, 2019 at 12:56 pm and is filed under Diabetes. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |