Striving for the impossible dream: a community-based multi-practice collaborative model of diabetes management

• Published in: Diabetic medicine 2010-02, Vol.27 (2), p.197-202
• Main Authors: Distiller, L. A., Brown, M. A., Joffe, B. I., Kramer, B. D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Community Health Services - organization & administration; Delivery of Health Care - organization & administration; Delivery of Health Care - standards; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - therapy; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Disease Management; Education, Nursing; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; glycaemic control; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Hospitalization - economics; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Male; medical management; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; models of care; Models, Organizational; organization of care; Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care); Physicians, Family - education; service provision; South Africa; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vertebrates: endocrinology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2009.02907.x

Diabet. Med. 27, 197–202 (2010) Aims  In 1994 the Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDE) based in Johannesburg, South Africa established a novel community‐based capitation and risk‐sharing model for diabetes management. We here describe the model and present a recent survey of the performance/outcomes of this unique diabetes care programme. Methods  Data on 17 043 patients managed by the CDE Diabetes Management Programme at its Centre and its 262 affiliated Centres were analysed from its national database. From this total cohort, 1520 Type 1 and 8026 Type 2 diabetes patients have been in the Programme for > 5 years. The 5‐year outcome data on hospital admission rates, glycaemic control (HbA1c), and microvascular complication rates were assessed in this subgroup of patients. Results  Major reductions in hospital admission rates for both acute metabolic emergencies and all causes (40% overall) were achieved in patients enrolled onto the Diabetes Management Programme. The mean HBA1c on enrolment was 9.2% for subjects with Type 1 and 8.8% for those with Type 2 diabetes. After 1 year, mean HbA1c fell to 7.6% and 7.3% for the Type 1 and Type 2 subjects, respectively. At 5 years the HbA1c remained similar at 7.7% for the Type 1 subjects and 7.4% for the Type 2 subjects, demonstrating sustained improvement. Progression of microvascular complications appears to have been delayed. Conclusions  This managed care model of diabetes care in the context of the South African Private Health Care System achieved long‐term improvement in glycaemic control and all‐cause hospital admission rates. This may be due to the cost‐containment being in the hands of the treating doctor, supported by an annual training programme. This programme is based on an individualized and holistic approach encompassing intensive patient education to facilitate self‐empowerment and including prompting for the management of risk factors.