La Clínica del Pueblo Helps Latinos control their Diabetes
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield teams up with a Capital-area health clinic to improve diabetes care among Latinos.
The Situation
Diabetes accounts for 14 percent of the diagnoses treated at the La Clínica del Pueblo free health clinic in Washington, D.C. Some Latinos have found it difficult to control their disease properly while faced with the challenges of adjusting to life in the United States. Not managed properly, diabetes can result in earlier and more severe complications.
The Program
With a $360,000 investment from Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc. (GHMSI), the Capital-area affiliate of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, La Clínica del Pueblo is launching a three-year program to improve the care of Latinos with diabetes. The program, part of the CareFirst Commitment Initiative, provides:
- A Chronic Care Model. A new server will link the clinic with evidence-based guidelines for diabetes treatment. This allows the entire health care team to coordinate patient care and education while continuously tracking services and evaluating interventions.
- Intensive education. A culturally competent health educator will work with patients individually and in groups to help them better manage their diabetes.
- Home visit educators. Five "promotores," or peer health educators, will make visits to the homes of diabetes patients and train them to manage their illness.
La Clínica expects to serve 150 to 200 patients in this program, 98 percent of whom are Hispanic.
"This partnership will help our staff effectively serve diabetic patients from the moment they walk in the door," said Juan Romagoza, M.D., Executive Director of the clinic. "We are really excited that this new program will allow us to provide patient counseling, education, and outreach in new and exciting ways."
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