GLEN COVE, NY --Thanks to the efforts of a multidisciplinary diabetes task force, Glen Cove Hospital is the first in New York State -- and only the eighth nationwide -- to receive certification for Advanced Inpatient Diabetes Management by The Joint Commission, a national healthcare accreditation organization.  The prestigious recognition certifies that Glen Cove Hospital has met the standards of care specific to diabetes, which included a variety of initiatives to enhance care for hospitalized patients with diabetes or pre-diabetes, and to educate patients on self-management of the disease. 

“National certification for inpatient diabetes care by The Joint Commission is a tremendous honor and I applaud the entire hospital staff on this achievement,” said Dennis Connors, executive director of Glen Cove Hospital.  “This award translates into better patient care and demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to protecting the community against this chronic disorder.”  

Diabetes Affects 24 million Americans
Approximately 24 million people in the United States have diabetes and one in four is unaware.  Estimates range as high as 57 million who have pre-diabetes and are at a high risk for developing the disease.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which blood glucose (sugar) levels are too high.  The hormone insulin helps the glucose get into the body’s cells to give them energy.  With type 1 diabetes, the body does not make insulin.  With more common, type 2 diabetes, the body does not make or use insulin well.  Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in the blood and can lead to serious health problems. 

Hospital Diabetes Task Force Assesses Patient Care
Research shows that hospitalized patients with diabetes or those with high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) who are not carefully managed will experience poorer outcomes, such as increased infections, slower wound healing and other complications.   To address these issues, the hospital’s task force brought together representatives of its departments of Nursing and Nutrition, both of which include certified diabetes educators (CDE), Medicine, Surgery, Pharmacy, Social Work, Laboratory, Quality Management, Administration and Information Technology. To reduce incidents of both high and low blood sugar levels, the task force focused on coordinating the care of patients in the critical care and medical-surgical units, and other areas throughout the hospital. 

Heading the hospital’s diabetes task force were Barbara Keber, MD, program leader and assistant director of Glen Cove’s Family Medicine Residency Program, and Meg Diliberto, RN, CDE program coordinator.  “Upon admission, all patients are screened for diabetes, tracked throughout their hospital stay to ensure that blood sugar levels are monitored properly, and treated with intravenous insulin or other medications as indicated,” said Dr. Keber.  “This initiative underscores that it is better to be proactive and prevent diabetes than treat the disease’s complications,” she added.

“Glen Cove Hospital has earned the nation’s top recognition in inpatient diabetes care and we are No. 1 in New York State, demonstrating a benchmark of quality care,” said T. Ravishankar, MD, chief of endocrinology at Glen Cove Hospital. “Diabetes is a lifelong disease and through the hospital’s team approach, we are providing teaching tools to our patients for lifelong care.”

Minimizing Your Risk
According to Jonathan Kaplan, MD, an attending endocrinologist who served on the hospital’s diabetes task force, approximately 30 to 40 percent of all patients admitted to the hospital have diabetes or pre-diabetes, with the majority of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. “This hospital-wide effort puts the focus on diabetes upfront and center, which is significant because the disease causes illness and morbidity.  Prevention is key to minimizing risks.  It’s not only the prevention of diabetes, it’s the prevention of heart disease and stroke -- hallmarks of the disease,” said Dr. Kaplan. Type 2 diabetes can also lead to kidney failure, blindness and amputation, he added. 

 Dr. Kaplan stressed that lifestyle changes such as weight loss, moderate exercise and a healthier diet can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes among high-risk adults.  “Weight reduction is probably the most important thing anyone can do to prevent diabetes or reverse the disease,” he said.

Education is Key to Controlling Diabetes
“Diabetes is considered a backseat disease when patients are admitted to the hospital because it’s not their primary diagnosis,” said Ms. Diliberto, whose expertise is in diabetes education.  “An early intervention program is important because studies show how quickly patients get better when blood sugar levels are properly monitored in critical care units and other areas of the hospital.”

Ms. Diliberto focuses on identifying patients who have pre-diabetes, newly diagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes, and providing one-on-one education.  “The hospital is the best place to implement changes and assess patents’ diabetes needs before they are discharged home,” said Ms. Diliberto.  “We encourage patients and family members to make healthy lifestyle changes to prevent long-term complications of the disease.  Most patients are thankful that the hospital addressed their diabetes.”

For more information, contact the hospital’s Diabetes/Heart Club Support Group at  (516) 674-7936 or the American Diabetes Association at:  www.diabetes.org  or 1-800-DIABETES.

Media Contact: Betty Olt
516-465-2645
bolt@nshs.edu