Diabetes Community of Practice
May 27th, 2014
2:30-4:00
Benjamin Hooks Library
In attendance: Ann Marie Wallace, Shalonda Tucker (Baptist Memorial Health Care); Cynthia MagallonPuljic, Connie Binkowitz (YMCA); Alyssa Chase, Gladys Hunt (Qsource); Cynthia Nunnally, Jason Hodges
(Shelby County Health Department); Arnetta Macklin (MIFA), Kay Price (Brunswick Community
Association), Ed Dismuke (U of M; School of Public Health)
Discussion:
Merging with the Obesity & Related Chronic Diseases Community of Practice (CoP): the group began the
meeting with a brief discussion on the potential for merging the Diabetes CoP with the Obesity &
Chronic Diseases CoP. It was decided that it would be best to agree upon a direction for the Diabetes
CoP then determine if it naturally fit within the Obesity CoP’s scope of interest. For example, if diabetes
self-management emerged as a strategic focus it would not make sense to merge with Obesity.
However, if diabetes prevention emerged as a strategy, then it would fit within obesity prevention
strategies making merging the CoPs a reasonable next step.
Aligning with Healthy Shelby’s Chronic Diseases group: It will be important for the relevant CoPs (and
overall MAPP process) to operationalize the process for aligning their similar efforts.
Strategies for Diabetes in Shelby County brainstorming:
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Creating a diabetes registry similar to the register developed by Healthy Shelby for
hypertension.( http://memphisfastforward.com/blog/posts/medtronic-funds-boost-healthyshelby-fight-against-chronic-disease)
o Work with Healthy Shelby to learn about their experiences in doing this for
hypertension
o Dr. Levy at U of M was working with a diabetes registry awhile back; it would be
important to understand where those efforts are currently
o Could potentially pull numerator/denominator de-identified data from providers in the
meantime while waiting for a diabetes registry to be created
o Qsource can potentially pull data from Medicare datasets to provide some initial insight
about diabetes in Shelby County
Screening for pre-diabetes
o Having people receive screening for being pre-diabetic is an important tool for diabetes
prevention efforts.
o A substantially low number of individuals are aware of their pre-diabetic status
Measuring efforts
o It is important to systematically measure what we are doing around diabetes in Shelby
County
o Not enough information about efforts’ effectiveness
Focus on small geographic locations or target populations (e.g., seniors with MIFA meals on
wheels)
Diabetes Community of Practice
May 27th, 2014
2:30-4:00
Benjamin Hooks Library
o
o
o
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Allows us to see impact in a shorter period of time
Has a potential to be more easily measured
Might not require additional funding – target existing efforts versus creating something
new
Self-management technology (apps, logs, etc)
o Use tracking apps for phones, tablets to monitor diets, activity, glucose levels, etc.
E-referral process for primary care providers to aid in helping patients engage in
activities/behaviors that address both those that are pre-diabetic and living with diabetes
o Massachusetts’s e-referral slide presentation is at the link below. The MA project starts
around slide #16
o http://www.cdc.gov/stltpublichealth/townhall/presentations/2013/vs_september.pdf
Learn about existing successful efforts
o For example, Every Diabetic Counts report in MS
(http://www.cmspulse.org/community-initiatives/everyone-with-diabetescounts/summary-of-EDC-results/2008-2012.html )
o Best practices:
 http://www.cmspulse.org/community-initiatives/everyone-with-diabetescounts/summary-of-EDC-results/best-practices-and-innovation.html
 http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/PublicHealthCompedium.pdf
Goals/Strategic Issues to focus Diabetes CoP: These strategic issue questions will be the focus of the
Diabetes CoP’s next meeting on June 27th.
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How do we align partnerships (including non-traditional partners) to address diabetes-related
issues in Shelby County?
What is the best method to learn about best practices or exemplars doing similar work in similar
communities?
How do we develop a pre-diabetic/diabetic registry similar to Healthy Shelby’s hypertension
model?
What are the commons goals of diabetes-related programs throughout Shelby County? How do
we capitalize these common goals to make a collective impact in our efforts?
How can we create/promote an e-referral type of system/process for primary care providers
around the risk and protective behaviors associated with diabetes and other chronic diseases?
Other notes:
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Need to have the medical expert at the table as well to provide background and context to our
diabetes discussion and potential strategies
NEXT MEETING: FRIDAY June 27 2:30-4:00 at Benjamin Hooks Library