Criteria used to determine the 2007 Programs of Excellence:
DCOM was looking for initiatives that were innovative, sustainable, multidisciplinary and could serve as
a model for others.
Archives:
Below are the 2007 recognized Programs of Excellence and the official 2007 Programs of Excellence
press release. Learn how Holyoke Health Center got media coverage as a result of the Programs of
Excellence press release :
Holyoke Health Center’s (HHC) Diabetes Self-Management Program is designed to engage clinical,
support staff and low income Latino patients with Type 2 diabetes to improve and maintain positive
behavior changes and health outcomes. In 2003, HHC received grant funding to develop an extensive
program of resources and supports to help patients self-manage their diabetes. Programs were
implemented to increase knowledge about diabetes, improve patient self-efficacy and problem solving
skills. The program provides a series of interventions, such as Breakfast Club, Snack Club, Diabetes
Education, Exercise Class, Clinical Staff Training and ongoing involvement of Promotoras de Salud for
specialized diabetes self-management programming. Holyoke’s program makes a positive impact on
patient’s lifestyle behaviors, self-efficacy, skills, knowledge and monitors improvements in clinical
indicators.
The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in greater
Boston. The goal of the Foundation’s Improving Diabetes Care Initiative is to improve health outcomes
for people with diabetes by expanding access and improving quality of care through a variety of
interventions aimed at slowing the progress of the disease. The Foundation has funded health centers
to evaluate the economic implications of the interventions and replicate successful practices to obtain
more adequate third-party reimbursement. "We are confident the projects that we and the Fireman
Foundation are supporting at five Boston community health centers will help people with diabetes live
longer, healthier and more productive lives,” said David Ford, Executive Director of the Smith Family
Foundation. “Looking ahead, we also hope to demonstrate to public and private insurers that
investments in prevention and chronic disease management are cost effective from a societal
standpoint." The initiative is intended to run from May 2006 through April 2011, aiming to sustain the
most effective interventions via third party reimbursement and/or alternative funding sources.
In 2006, Home Health VNA embarked on a project to develop a diabetes care management program.
The program, which is centered on module-based diabetes clinical pathway tool, provides visiting
clinicians with a roadmap to guide interventions and teaching with diabetic patients. The pathway tool
contains behaviorally stated patient objectives, guides clinicians to find specific information within the
packet and which behavioral objectives the diabetic patient should meet following the intervention.
The pathway tool is multidisciplinary, providing interventions for nurses, dieticians, physical therapists
and social workers. It incorporates a multitude of simple and colorful patient handouts also available in
Spanish. The goal of the pathway is to improve diabetic’s self-management, reduce hospitalizations,
provide comprehensive education materials, minimize variations in practice among visiting clinicians,
provide clinicians with a flexible tool, promote continuity of care, improve the process of communication
and documentation and educate visiting clinicians on the current standards of diabetes. The Home
Health VNA project serves patients residing in seventy-eight cities and towns in Massachusetts and
New Hampshire.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Programs of Excellence |
|
| Other Years Programs of Excellence |