La Maestra Community Health Centers (LMHC) has established the use of clinical pharmacists that provide support with adjusting medications as needed for their patients in conjunction with their treating providers. LMHC has also implemented after-hour group classes to accommodate patients with their schedules and has been shown to be successful. LMHC established cohorts of 20 patients for the after-hour group classes, and in each cohort, there was a compliance rate of about 85%. Successes that were seen as part of the after-hour group classes include weight loss of five pounds in four weeks in some patients.
Aside from managing A1C levels among their health center patients, LMHC established new approaches for eye care. This approach involves taking pictures with a Retinal Camera during examinations at the health center where they’re sent directly to eye specialists to ensure proper follow ups are completed with patients as it has been reported that patients have struggled to follow up with eye specialists on their own. This approach is believed to help decrease no-show rates among patients with diabetes and increase compliance.
For more information on this promising practices, go to Using Information Systems and Technology to Enhance Diabetes Care