Billings Clinic diabetes education program earns national recognition
Billings Clinic is pleased to announce that it has earned the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) service. Billings Clinic’s DSMES service was originally Recognized in April 2001. This recognition shows that ADA believes that Billings Clinic’s service offers high-quality education, which is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.
“This recognition speaks to the quality of work done by our Diabetes Care and Education Specialists throughout out our health system,” said Lisa Ranes, manager of the Billings Clinic Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism Center. “That translates into valuable education the helps our patients live their best lives every day while managing their diabetes.”
The Association’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational services meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support. The DSMES Standards were developed and tested under the auspices of the National Diabetes Advisory Board in 1983 and were revised by the diabetes community in 1994, 2000, 2007, 2012, and 2017.
Billings Clinic’s diabetes self-management education program teaches patients the skills they need to learn to control their diabetes. This includes:
- Learning what diabetes is and how to manage it.
- How food affects blood glucose and how to eat healthy for a lifetime.
- The benefits of physical activity and how to make it a part of daily life.
- How medications work.
- How to monitor and interpret blood glucose.
- How to prevent complications.
- Skills for managing a lifetime disease.
- Continued motivational resources for good health.
Billings Clinic’s Diabetes Educators are registered nurses and registered dietitians who have completed special training, extensive practical experience and testing in diabetes care and management. They focus on helping patients achieve behavioral change goals, which in turn helps them reduce the risk of complications and improve their health status. Learn more at www.billingsclinic.com/diabetes.
DSMES services apply for Recognition with the ADA voluntarily. Services that achieve Recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management. Education Recognition status is verified by an official certificate from ADA and awarded for four years.
“This gives our teams a national standard to measure the quality of services we provide,” Ranes said. “And, of course, it assures our patients that they will get the high-quality care and education they need.”
This renewal of recognition applies to Billings Clinic’s Diabetes Endocrinology and Metabolism Center in downtown Billings, the primary care West End and Heights Clinics in Billings, Billings Clinic Miles City, Billings Clinic Cody (WY), Billings Clinic Bozeman OB/GYN, Stillwater Billings Clinic in Columbus and Beartooth Billings Clinic in Red Lodge.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2020 National Diabetes Statistic Report there are 34.2 million people or 10.5% of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 26.8 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 7.3 million people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day more than 3,900 people are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications – heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease, and amputation. About 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 18 years or older in 2018. Diabetes continues to be the seventh leading cause of death in the US in 2017 as it contributed to 270,702 deaths.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading non-profit health organization supporting diabetes research, advocacy and information for health professionals, people with diabetes and the public. Founded in 1940, the Association continues to support people affected by diabetes nationwide.
For more information on Recognized education services in your area or other American Diabetes Association programs, call the ADA office at 1.800. DIABETE (342-2383) or contact the ADA online at www.diabetes.org/erp.
