Improving Outcomes for Diabetic Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery
- Joyce Najarian, MSN,
- Deborah Swavely, MSN,
- Eric Wilson, MD,
- Larry Merkle, MD,
- Thomas Wasser, PhD,
- Angela Hesener Quinn, BS,
- Sallie Urffer, MHA and
- Mark Young, MD
- Address correspondence and requests for reprints to Deborah Swavely, MSN, Administrator, Institute for Vascular Medicine and Surgery, Lehigh Valley Hospital, 1200 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. Allentown, PA 18105.
Abstract
Improving management of inpatients with diabetes undergoing vascular surgery requires collaboration among many health care practitioners. This article describes a performance improvement project that implemented two evidence-based algorithmic order sets to guide perioperative glucose management for diabetic patients undergoing vascular procedures and utilized a certified diabetes educator (CDE) to educate health care practitioners. Results showed statistically and clinically significant reductions in infection and differences in mean blood glucose between pre- and postintervention groups, including a direct relationship between glucose control and the level of involvement of a CDE in patient care.
Footnotes
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Joyce Najarian, MSN, is director of the Helwig Diabetes Center; Deborah Swavely, MSN, is administrator of the Institute for Vascular Medicine and Surgery; Eric Wilson, MD, is chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery; Larry Merkle, MD, is chief of the Division of Endocrinology; Thomas Wasser, PhD, is interim chief of Health Studies; Angela Hesener Quinn, BS, is a research assistant; Sallie Urffer, MHA, is a project analyst; and the late Mark Young, MD, was, until his death in April 2004, senior vice president for Education and Research at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown, Pa.
- American Diabetes Association
