EvergreenHealth One of 17 U.S. Hospitals Recognized by Leapfrog for Inpatient Diabetes Care

People with diabetes often face the heightened risk of serious health complications when hospitalized, according to The Leapfrog Group, especially when they are people of color. Late last year, Leapfrog teamed up with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to launch a new patient safety partnership – the first-ever national recognition program to identify hospitals providing safe and high-quality health care for people living with diabetes. Hospitals were evaluated along a comprehensive range of key indicators that assess the full continuum of care. The highest performing hospitals deliver safe, effective care that empowers patients from admission all the way through follow-up after discharge.

• We're so proud that EvergreenHealth has been named a Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes.
• EvergreenHealth is one of just 17 hospitals in the country to earn this recognition, demonstrating leadership at a national level.
• You may visit here to learn about Key Indicators for Recognition:
  
  • Structures to support patient care (self-management, rapid response teams, hypoglycemia protocol, data collection on amputations);
  • Preparation for surgical patients;
  • All hospitalized patients (meals and insulin regimen);
  • and high-risk patients (specialized care teams, patient education, discharge planning).

Most of us know someone with diabetes. My first experience with diabetes was when I was a sophomore in high school and my best friend, Missy, was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic.

Her parents involved me in the education since I was often with her and needed to understand the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia with her new diagnosis. I remember watching her trying to figure out how much insulin to take before we went to our favorite Burger King for lunch or rushing to grab her a snack when I knew her blood sugar was low. The way Missy manages her diabetes is very different today than it was back then, but she relies on her health care team to help navigate her care so that she remains healthy.

As a nurse, I have often seen the devastating effects of diabetes. And since no two patients are alike, at EvergreenHealth we adapt our care to meet the individual needs of each patient with diabetes, whether they are newly diagnosed or have lived with diabetes for many years. And as our organization has demonstrated time and time again, we don't always have the answers ready. What we do have is the creativity, skill and collegial support to figure it out – to provide safe care that is tailored to meet the distinct health needs of every patient.

I'm so proud of this recognition by Leapfrog, but in the end it's not about the award, right? It's about the people we serve. On behalf of our patients with diabetes, and everyone else for whom we provide care, my deepest thanks.

About The Leapfrog Group

The Leapfrog Group is a nonprofit watchdog organization that serves as a voice for health care consumers and purchasers, using their collective influence to foster positive change in U.S. health care. Leapfrog is the nation’s premier advocate of transparency in health care—collecting, analyzing and disseminating data to inform value-based purchasing and improved decision-making.