The Diabetes Educator

 

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The Diabetes Educator, Vol. 32, No. 6, 963-967 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0145721706296029
© 2006 American Association of Diabetes Educators; Published by SAGE Publications

FEATURES

Improving Access to Quality Diabetes Education in a Rural State

The Montana Quality Diabetes Education Initiative

Marcene K. Butcher, RD, CDE, Judy Gilman, APRN, CDE, Jane Fitch Meszaros, RN, BSN, CDE, Deb Bjorsness, MPH, RD, CDE, Mary Madison, RN, MS, CDE, Janet M. McDowall, RN, BSN, Carrie S. Oser, MPH, Elizabeth A. Johnson, APRN, Todd S. Harwell, MPH, Steven D. Helgerson, MD, MPH and Dorothy Gohdes, MD

From the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Helena (Ms Butcher, Ms McDowall, Ms Oser, Ms Johnson, Mr Harwell, Dr Helgerson, Dr Gohdes); St Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center, Missoula, Montana (Ms Gilman); St Vincent Healthcare, Billings, Montana (Ms Meszaros); Great Falls Clinic, Great Falls, Montana (Ms Bjorsness); and Fort Peck Service Unit, Indian Health Service, Poplar, Montana (Ms Madison).

Correspondence to Marcene K. Butcher, RD, CDE, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Cogswell Building, C-317, PO Box 202951, Helena, MT 59620-2951 (marcibutcher{at}msn.com).

Purpose

Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is an integral component of diabetes care; however, skilled educators and recognized programs are not uniformly available in rural communities.

Methods

To increase access to quality DSME, the Montana Diabetes Control Program and the Montana chapter of the American Association of Diabetes Educators developed a mentoring program with 3 levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced. All participants were assisted by a volunteer certified diabetes educator (CDE) mentor. In addition, the program provided technical support for recognition through the American Diabetes Association and the Indian Health Service.

Results

From 2000 to 2005, 90 individuals participated; 76% were nurses and 21% dietitians. Twenty-seven of the 90 enrollees (30%) completed their structured option, and 13 achieved CDE certification. Most provided services in frontier counties (66%). Statewide, the number of CDEs in Montana increased 46% from 52 in 2000 to 76 in 2005. Twenty-five of the 30 facilities that received technical assistance achieved recognition. Statewide, the number of recognized education programs increasedfrom 2 in 2000 to 22 in 2005. Twelve (55%) of these programs were located in frontier counties.

Conclusions

Mentoring and technical support is an effective method to increase personnel skills for DSME and to increase access to quality education programs in rural areas.


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