Each month, the Together 2 Goal® campaign will feature a tool or resource
critical to the management of Type 2 diabetes.
2019
November 2019 – CLOT WISE™ Education Program
This month, we are highlighting the CLOT WISE™ education
program from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.—the Presenting Corporate Collaborator
of the T2G campaign extension. The CLOT WISE™ program includes videos to help
you learn more about the underlying risk for blood clots related to coronary
artery disease (CAD) and peripheral artery disease (PAD), why aspirin alone may
not be enough, and how to further reduce your patients’ risk for cardiovascular
events.
October 2019 – New! Interactive Campaign Planks [+]
We are excited to announce the launch of our
interactive campaign planks webpage! We made our original
campaign plank graphic dynamic, so you can explore all the resources
related to any campaign plank by clicking on the relevant icon. Find
provider resources, webinars, Plank Mentors, materials from our
Campaign Toolkit and Toolkit Supplement, and more - all in one, easy
location.
September 2019 – Know Diabetes by Heart™ Podcast
Series [+]
Know Diabetes by Heart™ - an initiative by the American Heart
Association and the American Diabetes Association, along with
industry leaders - seeks to reduce cardiovascular deaths, heart
attacks, and strokes in people living with Type 2 diabetes. Their
website has a variety of resources available for patients and
professionals including a
podcast series focusing on the link between cardiovascular
disease and Type 2 diabetes. There are already nine episodes
available, spanning topics from the role of the cardiologist to
relevant guidelines to shared decision-making.
Are you interested in participating in live discussions about
chronic kidney disease (CKD) and Type 2 diabetes? Check out this
series of live, interactive
web conferences led by experts in CKD sponsored by Janssen
Pharmaceuticals. In addition to discussing prevalence, risk factors,
and screening for CKD in patients with diabetes, these webinars will
also consider patient burden and Medicare spending for patients with
diabetes and CKD. The series only runs through August 20, so be sure
to tune in this month!
July 2019 – Get the Most Out of Together 2 Goal®
Resources [+]
Did you know that anyone from your organization is invited to
participate in our monthly webinars, receive our email updates, or
join the T2G Community listserv? It takes a team to improve diabetes
care, so if there is someone from your team that you would like to
get more involved in T2G, let us know! Reach out to your regional
liaison to discuss how you and your colleagues can get the most out
of campaign resources.
Did you know that the American Diabetes Association (ADA)
Standards of Care is a living document? Notable updates are
incorporated throughout the year in response to important events
like the approval of new treatments or the publication of new
findings. Informed by the recent ADA consensus
statement, the April update incorporated a recommendation for
individualized assessment to determine appropriate nutrition plans
for patients. The most recent updates focusing on improving
cardiovascular and renal health in people with Type 2 diabetes were
based on findings from the Canagliflozin and Renal Outcomes in Type
2 Diabetes and Nephropathy (CREDENCE) trial.
Your organization’s primary contact for the campaign should have
received a hard copy of the Toolkit Supplement in the mail. If you’d
like to request additional hard copies for your team, please contact
us at together2goal@amga.org.
Don’t forget that you can always access the
digital versions of both the Campaign Toolkit and the Toolkit
Supplement on our website!
April 2019 – Together 2 Goal® Regional Liaisons [+]
Do you have a question about the extension, data reporting, or
any other aspect of T2G? Reach out to your regional liaison! Our
team has three regional liaisons, Lisa Cornbrooks, Carolyn McPhee,
and Mallory Temple representing the east, central, and west parts of
the country, respectively. Please refer to our
regional
liaison map to determine the region where you are located. Still
not sure? Email
together2goal@amga.org and the appropriate regional liaison will
get back to you.
March 2019 – Call for Applications: 2019 Million Hearts®
Hypertension Control Challenge [+]
Has your practice or health system successfully worked with
patients to reduce high blood pressure and improve heart health? If
so, you might be a 2019 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control
Champion! If you have achieved a blood pressure control
rate of at least 80% for your patient population with hypertension,
share your success story and you could join many Together 2 Goal®
and Measure Up/Pressure Down® participants that have been recognized
in these annual awards celebrating exceptional hypertension control.
The submission deadline is April 1, 2019.
February 2019 – Critical Psychosocial Issues in Diabetes [+]
This month we’re highlighting the
Critical Psychosocial Issues in Diabetes web-based program
produced by UC San Diego Continuing Medical Education and the
Behavioral Diabetes Institute. This series of video modules is
designed to examine psychosocial issues in diabetes, provide a brief
review of the research literature, clarify how and why the problems
manifest themselves among patients with diabetes, and put forward
practical solutions for the busy healthcare professional. Each
module is accredited and free of charge.
We are excited to share our 2019 webinar calendar with you! As in
previous years, we will continue to host our hour-long monthly
webinars on the third Thursday of the month at 2-3 p.m. Eastern.
Be sure to join us tomorrow for our first webinar of 2019! Our
featured presenter, Nisa Maruthur, M.D., M.H.S., will present on
what’s new in the American Diabetes Association 2019 Standards of
Care.
2018
December 2018 – American Diabetes Association
Standards of Care App [+]
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care are now
available through their new phone application (app). The app
includes the ADA 2018 standards for diagnosing and treating
diabetes, nutrition recommendations and principles, and valuable
guidelines on managing diabetes and its complications in various
settings. This new app includes many interactive tools and quick
access to the content. Look for updates once their 2019 standards
are released.
November 2018 – Diabetes and Your Heart: Making the
Connection Brochure [+]
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in
people with diabetes. Diabetes and Your Heart: Making the
Connection is a guide to speaking with patients about Type 2
diabetes and CVD from Novo Nordisk, Inc. This brief brochure
describes CVD risk for patients with diabetes and the importance of
taking action. Share with patients to help them better understand
how CVD may affect them and what they can do to minimize risk.
October 2018 – Why Language Matters at Mytonomy Video [+]
Language matters in diabetes care. For people with diabetes,
language has an impact on motivation, behaviors, and outcomes.
Using empowering, rather than stigmatizing, language can help
make diabetes management easier for patients. Mytonomy is a software
and patient education company that produces videos as free resources
for patient and provider education.
Why Language Matters at Mytonomy is an educational video
focusing on the concept of using empowering, person-first language
and provides guidance on putting language guidelines into practice.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for people with
diabetes. The Boehringer Ingelheim and Lilly Diabetes Alliance – T2G’s Innovator
Track Corporate Collaborator – has several resources available below to help you
treat comorbid patients with Type 2 diabetes and CVD.
August 2018 – NIH Handout on Diabetic Eye Disease [+]
Did you know that diabetes is the leading cause of blindness for
working age adults? Many people living with diabetes don’t
understand how their condition can affect their vision. The National
Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed
5 Things You Should Know About Diabetic Eye Disease, a one-page
handout to explain this risk. Print this out and share it with your
patients today.
July 2018 - Mayo Clinic’s Diabetes Medication Choice Conversation Aid [+]
Changing or escalating diabetes medications requires tough conversations
between providers and their patients. Mayo Clinic has developed a free resource
to facilitate these conversations.
With the goal of shared decision-making, their tool helps providers to
address A1c, lifestyle, weight, heart health, and medication cost in a
patient-friendly way. Their Diabetes Medication Choice resources include an
interactive online
tool as well as printable cards and
patient brochures.
Do your patients have questions about how to eat healthy meals that aren’t
boring? Encourage them to visit the American Diabetes Association’s
Diabetes Food Hub for recipes.
The site allows visitors to search by ingredient, type of diet (i.e., low carb,
low sodium), cuisine, or meal type and offers a meal planner and grocery list
tool.
Lexington Clinic in Kentucky developed this
insulin training
checklist for use in both staff and patient trainings. It explains
the difference between bolus and basal insulin and provides
step-by-step instructions for insulin injection and storage.
Earn up to six continuing education credits while learning how to
deliver quality care and improve outcomes for your patients with
diabetes. The American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Is Primary
program will take place June 22 at the Orange County Convention
Center in Orlando, in advance of its 78th Scientific Sessions.
Attend this one-day meeting designed for primary care providers and
learn from the experts who developed the ADA’s recent guidelines.
The $100 registration fee includes admission, continuing
education credits, course materials, and lunch. Register today
here.
March - Call for Applications: 2018 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control
Challenge [+]
Is your organization leading the pack in blood pressure control rates for
your patients? Health professionals, practices, and health systems that have
achieved hypertension control rates of at least 80% are eligible to enter the
2018 Million Hearts® Hypertension Control Challenge.
These annual awards provide an opportunity for individuals and groups with
exceptional control to be recognized with this esteemed honor. HHS and Million
Hearts® have consistently recognized participants in Together 2 Goal® and
Measure Up/Pressure Down® in these annual awards. The submission deadline is
April 6, 2018.
Don’t miss the
AMGA 2018 Annual Conference – the premier gathering of leaders
from medical groups and health systems, providing you with the
perfect venue to exchange ideas and strategies for success with your
peers.
You will enjoy 37 peer-to-peer breakout sessions, including a
Together 2 Goal® breakout on innovative tech and diabetes, as well
as inspiring keynotes from burnout expert Abraham Verghese,
disruption guru Jonah Berger, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords,
and astronaut Mark Kelly.
Register by next Friday, February 16 to take advantage of the
advance rate.
Is your organization interested in an in-person diabetes training
for your providers and staff? T2G Principal Corporate Collaborator
Johnson & Johnson is offering a free, interactive, one-day training
for up to three Together 2 Goal® participants in 2018. This program,
called CORE, is designed to help you get to goal.
Last year, three T2G participants took part and gave the program
rave reviews.
December - Top Ten Tips to Start Managing Your Diabetes [Handout] [+]
Download Mercy’s one-page handout, “Top
Ten Tips to Start Managing your Diabetes,” and share it with
your patients. This is a great tip sheet for newly diagnosed
patients, as well as those who may need a refresher for the holiday
season.
November - AADE Webinar: Updated DSMES Standards [+]
On Tuesday, November 14, join the American Association of
Diabetes Educators (AADE) for a
90-minute webinar on the Revised National Standards for Diabetes
Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES). The webinar will
explain the review process undertaken by the national workgroup to
create the standards and will address common misconceptions about
the standards when they are integrated into practice.
Attendees will hear from three presenters: Joni Beck, Pharm.D.,
BC-ADM, CDE, of University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center,
College of Medicine; Jodi Lavin-Tompkins, M.S.N., R.N., CDE, BC-ADM,
of AADE; and Uzma Quraishi, M.S., RD, of the American Diabetes
Association.
The webinar costs $50 for AADE members ($65 for non-members) and
provides CE credit.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Indianapolis last month
for our
Diabetes Symposium, held in conjunction with the American
Diabetes Association. More than 100 attendees joined us for
presentations, interactive breakouts, and networking.
Presentations and discussions focused on three campaign planks:
cardiovascular disease risk, emotional and behavioral support, and
treatment algorithms. If you are interested in viewing the slides
from the Symposium, please email
Together2Goal@amga.org
and we will send them to you.
September - ADA Position Statement on Diabetes and
Hypertension [+]
In August 2017, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) released
a
position statement on diabetes and hypertension, its first such
statement on the topic since 2003.
In it, ADA calls attention to the prevalence of hypertension
among patients with diabetes and indicates that atherosclerotic
cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is both the leading cause of
morbidity for people with diabetes and the largest contributor to
the cost of diabetes care. ADA recommends, among other things, that
providers measure blood pressure at every routine clinical care
visit.
The statement makes recommendations consistent with the planks in
both our Measure Up/Pressure Down® and Together 2 Goal® campaigns.
Per several requests following last month’s webinar, we are
sharing the Behavioral Diabetes Institute’s
Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS). The DDS is a 17-item scale that
captures four critical dimensions of distress: emotional burden,
regimen distress, interpersonal distress, and physician distress.
First published in 2005, it is used around the world as a clinical
instrument for opening conversations with one’s patients and as a
critical outcome measures in numerous studies.
This copyrighted scale is available free of charge to nonprofit
institutions for use in clinical care and research. However, payment
of a per-use licensing fee is required for all for-profit companies
and other for-profit institutions. To find out more about licensing
procedures and fees in regards to for-profit organizations,
please contact the Behavioral Diabetes Institute at info@behavioraldiabetes.org.
Nonprofit institutions can download a pdf of the DDS
here.
July - American Diabetes Association- Quality
Improvement Success Stories [+]
The American Diabetes Association (ADA), in collaboration with
the American College of Physicians, Inc. and the National Diabetes
Education Program, has introduced a Quality Improvement Success
Stories series.
Launched as a new department of ADA’s
Clinical Diabetes, “Quality Improvement Success
Stories” will feature articles and a searchable online collection
devoted to quality improvement and practice transformation
initiatives in the area of diabetes.
ADA encourages healthcare professionals working in diabetes to
submit the stories of their quality improvement initiatives through
the journal’s
online submission system. Each submission will be reviewed for
inclusion in the journal’s online quality improvement repository.
Selected submissions also will be published in each print issue of
Clinical Diabetes.
A template for success stories and detailed information for
authors is available
here.
June - Patient Resource: Bright Spots & Landmines [+]
The diaTribe Foundation’s senior editor, Adam Brown, published a
new patient resource, Bright Spots & Landmines: The Diabetes Guide I
Wish Someone Had Handed Me. The book, suited for patients with Type
1, Type 2, or prediabetes, is
available online for a free/name-your-own-price download.
Proceeds benefit the diaTribe Foundation, which is headed by Kelly
Close, a Together 2 Goal® National Advisory Committee member.
In this highly actionable guide, Adam shares the food, mindset,
exercise, and sleep strategies that have had the biggest positive
impact on his diabetes. Bright Spots & Landmines is filled with
hundreds of diabetes tips, questions, and shortcuts, including what
to eat to minimize blood sugar swings; helpful strategies to feel
less stressed, guilty, and burned out; and simple ways to improve
exercise and sleep.
Recently the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute in
collaboration with the National Kidney Foundation welcomed Alexis
Chettiar, ACNP-BC, PhD(c) to discuss prevention, detection and
treatment of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The webinar is available
on demand at
www.jjdi.com. You can register and login at no charge to view
the webinar. Once logged in, click on Webinars and then
Complications.
The Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute provides training for
healthcare professionals in new approaches to glucose measurement,
glucose management, insulin therapy and behavior change. Visit the
Institute at
www.jjdi.com and follow on Twitter @JJDiabetesInst to
receive timely and important updates about diabetes!
You can view the slides for this webinar
here,
and also follow these instructions on how to register to view the
webinar online
here.
We are pleased to announce that the Together 2 Goal® discussion list has
moved to a new home! Our new platform,
AMGA
Communities, will not only host the discussion list, but also make it easier
to connect with each other, share experiences, and
find information.
To learn more about AMGA Communities, we’ve provided information below on
who
has access, what “AMGA Communities” are, where you can access the platform, and
how to leverage these different capabilities.
All campaign points of contact are invited to participate in AMGA
Communities. To ensure peer-to-peer sharing in a closed setting, AMGA
Communities are limited to AMGA members only. Corporate collaborators and
nonprofit partners do not have access to the discussion list.
AMGA Communities is our newest
platform for the Together 2 Goal® Discussion List. This web-based tool also
enables Together 2 Goal® participants to:
1. Connect with each other
Access a directory with the
emails and phone numbers of fellow members.
Link to your LinkedIn
account and grow your network.
2. Share experiences
Ask questions through the
private listserv with a new option to respond to a person individually.
Download shared files and
templates or upload your own to grow the library.
3. Find information
Search the listserv,
library, and meeting archives simultaneously with the option to narrow results
based on upload date, source, and more.
Search for people based on
multiple demographics, including group size, organization type, top issues, and
more.
We hope that the discussion list will continue to be a valuable tool to help
AMGA members connect with fellow peers enrolled in the Together 2 Goal®
campaign.
Access the online webpage at
http://community.amga.org with your AMGA login credentials. Discussion list
emails will be sent directly to your email platform, so you don’t have to log in
to see all communications.
Although AMGA Communities introduces
some new functionality, using the discussion list is as easy as ever! To get
started, be sure to add
mail@connectedcommunity.org to your safe sender list so that messages from
the discussion list come straight to your inbox.
To send a message, simply send an email to the following address:
amga-t2g@connectedcommunity.org.
Remember, while we encourage open participation by posting discussion list
comments and questions directly, sensitive questions can be distributed via your
regional liaison to preserve anonymity on an issue.
To reply to an individual, scroll down to the end of the email and click
“Reply to Sender Online” or cut and paste the email address of the individual to
whom you want to respond into the “To” field. If you simply click “reply” via
your e-mail application, you will be replying to the entire discussion list,
rather than just the individual. Messages such as “thanks for the information”
or “me, too” should be sent to individuals, rather than the entire list.
To unsubscribe from the discussion list, scroll down to the end of the email
and click “Unsubscribe.” Please do not send administrative messages, such as
“remove me from the list,” through the discussion list.
Questions? Comments? Feel free to email Leslie Ayuk-Takor at
layuk-takor@amga.org.
Have you exemplified leadership in improving diabetes care? Has your
organization displayed a commitment to the Together 2 Goal® campaign goal,
driving measureable results among patients with Type 2 diabetes? If the answers
are yes, your organization is what we call a Goal-Getter!
And in the Together 2 Goal® campaign, we recognize our Goal-Getters. We share
their successes—to not only celebrate them, but also to help spread best
practices and lessons learned in diabetes management, empowering others across
the country to tackle similar challenges and improve diabetes care through our
campaign planks.
If your organization is a Goal-Getter, we want to hear from you. Whether you
have motivated patients, changed a care process, or leveraged IT by implementing
one of the campaign planks to improve diabetes care at your organization, tell
us your story by completing the form available
here. We’ve
included a number of exploratory questions to help you along the way. You can
also view a story from a fellow Goal-Getter, Geisinger Health System,
here,
about embedding point-of-care tools.
A representative from the campaign will contact you regarding the draft you
submitted and work with you to finalize your Goal-Getter entry, providing
limited writing support as needed. Note that copy may be edited for clarity and
length. If you have any questions, please contact your Regional Liaison or
together2goal@amga.org.
The new federal diabetes screening guideline has the potential to identify
millions more people with diabetes or at risk for diabetes – but only if it is
widely adopted and consistently used. Similarly, strong evidence shows the
effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in delaying or preventing the onset of
diabetes, but healthcare providers need to refer their patients appropriately to
evidence-based diabetes prevention programs.
Join Healthy People 2020 and the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance on Tuesday,
February 21 at 12:30 p.m. ET for a Spotlight on Health webinar about diabetes
screening and prevention. The webinar will discuss:
The U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force recommendation on blood glucose and Type 2 diabetes
screening
Provider referral to
evidence-based diabetes prevention programs
Medicare’s focus on
diabetes prevention programs
You’ll also hear from a federally qualified health center in Texas that has
improved rates of screening and referral for adults with prediabetes who are at
risk for diabetes.
Diabetes affects an estimated 30 million people in the United States.
Diabetes screening and referral to diabetes prevention programs are proven
strategies for preventing or delaying the onset of Type 2 diabetes in people at
high risk for developing the disease.
This webinar will highlight 2 Healthy People 2020 objectives:
Reduce the annual number of
new cases of diagnosed diabetes in the population.
Increase prevention
behaviors in persons at high risk for diabetes with prediabetes by increasing
levels of physical activity, reducing the amount of fat or calories in their
diets, and losing weight.
The Diabetes Advocacy Alliance™ (DAA) is a coalition of 21 members,
representing patient, professional, and trade associations, other nonprofit
organizations, and corporations, all united in the desire to change the way
diabetes is viewed and treated in America. The DAA was formed and began
activities in January 2010. DAA members include Together 2 Goal® Presenting
Corporate Collaborator Novo Nordisk, Inc. (DAA Co-Chairs), as well as Together 2
Goal® campaign partners American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists,
American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Diabetes Association (DAA
Co-Chairs), and Diabetes Hands Foundation.
The first annual Together 2 Goal® National Day of Action on
November 3 was a major success, empowering millions across the
nation to better manage diabetes.
Cover page of wrap report or button for people to more easily
access – if not, maybe logo to add more visual appeal
Our National Day of Action Wrap Report, available
here [PDF],
highlights the many activities hosted by the campaign, including the
online pledge, Twitter chat, and more.
Participant “actions” and involvement are also featured,
including:
Proclamation by
Pennsylvania Governor (Premier Medical Associates)
Blog post and
other activities (Henry Ford Health System)
Media blitz
(Geisinger Health System)
Signs of
support (Hattiesburg Clinic and Utica Park Clinic)
Principal Corporate Collaborator Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Systems is
offering on-site, interactive C.O.R.E. (Changing Outcomes with Resources and
Engagement) training program sessions for up to three Together 2 Goal®
participating organizations in 2017. This is a free campaign offering that is
intended to help Together 2 Goal® participants with achieving their goals of
improving care for patients with diabetes.
Participating organizations must have the ability to dedicate 25-40 staff to
a full, one-day, in-person training. Participants should include healthcare
providers from different disciplines.
Due to high demand, selection will be based on an application process. If
interested, please complete the brief application form available
here by
Tuesday,
January 31, 2017.
The C.O.R.E. Program – intended for clinical and administrative leaders
(e.g., CMO, CNO, department chairs, office managers, quality staff) and
practicing clinicians with an interest in improving diabetes (e.g., physicians,
PAs, NPs, pharmacists, RNs, CDEs, RDs) – utilizes a unique, hands-on curriculum
delivered in a participant-centered learning environment.
This customized opportunity will help to improve each healthcare
professional’s diabetes-related knowledge and skills related to their diabetes
practice, as well as work to systematically improve diabetes care to achieve the
overall goals of the Together 2 Goal® campaign.
What topics are included in the C.O.R.E. Program? [+]
This tailored program is intended for clinical and administrative leaders
(e.g., CMO, CNO, department chairs, office managers, quality staff) and
practicing clinicians with an interest in improving diabetes (e.g., physicians,
PAs, NPs, pharmacists, RNs, CDEs, RDs).
Thanks to Principal Corporate Collaborator Johnson & Johnson Healthcare
Systems’ support of Together 2 Goal®, the C.O.R.E. Program will be offered at no
cost for up to three AMGA members participating in the campaign.
Each month, we receive many questions from campaign participants and
supporters about our Together 2 Goal® monthly webinars. Please see answers to
your frequently asked questions below:
How can I see the schedule
and topics of upcoming webinars?
A complete schedule of upcoming webinars, including dates and times, topics,
and speakers, is available on our
Webinars
webpage.
If I am unable to attend a
webinar or want to share the webinar with my colleagues, are recordings
available?
Within a week of each webinar, both slides and a full recording (slides &
audio) are posted to our
Webinars
webpage. We will also send an email announcing that the recording is available
to all campaign points of contact.
Who can join the campaign
webinars live?
Campaign webinar live access is limited to participating medical groups and
health systems, nonprofit partners and supporting organizations, corporate
collaborators, and committee members. The recordings are available to the
general public.
How can I invite colleagues
to join the webinars?
Webinar registration emails can be forwarded to others in your organization.
If you would like colleagues to receive all webinar registration emails moving
forward, please email your Regional Liaison or
together2goal@amga.org with their
name, title, organization, and email.
How can I register for
campaign webinars?
Registration information for campaign webinars are sent on a monthly basis
via email to our campaign points of contact. To ensure you and your team members
receive these communications, please add the following emails to your safe
senders list: together2goal@amga.org, messenger@webex.com, and domains ending in
@amgalist.org and @amga.org. We do not post the webinar registration link online
because access is limited to participating medical groups and health systems,
nonprofit partners and supporting organizations, corporate collaborators, and
committee members.
Can I register for the
entire webinar series?
No. Registration for campaign webinars is done separately for each webinar in
order to minimize communications to those who may not be interested in or
available for a specific webinar. We encourage you to register for each webinar
when you receive the email with registration information.
Will campaign webinars
continue in 2017 and beyond?
Yes! We are currently finalizing our 2017 webinar schedule and look forward
to sharing the topics and speakers with you soon. Together 2 Goal® campaign
webinars will continue to be held on the third Thursday of each month, 2-3 p.m.
Eastern.
How can I recommend topics
or speakers?
We welcome recommendations for campaign webinar topics or speakers.
Self-nominations are also accepted. Please email your Regional Liaison or
together2goal@amga.org with your
recommendations.
How does the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015
(MACRA) affect diabetes care? This question was the focus of our
recent Chronic Care Roundtable meeting with industry partners. AMGA
Foundation President Dr. Jerry Penso recaps this meeting and shares
key takeaways for your organization in his LinkedIn blog, available
here.
To learn more about the impact MACRA will have on your group,
utilize our tools and learn from groups who have embraced risk, and
start putting your strategic plan into action. We encourage you to
visit AMGA’s resources available
here. AMGA launched a comprehensive initiative aimed at helping
members wherever they might be on the MACRA readiness
spectrum―whether you're looking for a concise summary of the
proposed MACRA rule, details on the two-track payment systems, or a
customized workshop to set your strategy. Our MACRA and Risk
Initiative will provide the insights to prepare you for action.
We Have the Answers: Together 2 Goal® Campaign Staff
Together 2 Goal® receives emails and calls on a daily basis from participating
organizations about the campaign. From data dilemmas to plank planning, we have
the answers! Sometimes, you don’t know who to reach out to, and we hope this
article will help direct you.
Data Questions
Our data team, led by AMGA Analytics, can answer questions about measurement
specifications, data reporting processes, timelines, and more. To contact,
please email DataHelpForT2G@amga.org.
Non-Data Campaign Questions
In order to better assist AMGA members participating in Together 2 Goal®, we’ve
divided our campaign team into three regions, as indicated in the map below.
Because many AMGA members serve multiple states, your state for this purpose is
where your organization’s headquarters is located.
Central Region (shaded in red), contact Shannon Walsh at
swalsh@amga.org
West Region (shaded in green), contact Kendra Gaskins at
kgaskins@amga.org
Still Unsure?
Fear not―you can contact campaign staff at
together2goal@amga.org and the
appropriate point of contact will be in touch.
Want to learn more about the organization behind Together 2 Goal®? Visit
www.amga.org to learn about
how we advance high performance health.
August - ADA's "Where Do I Begin?" Patient Booklet [+]
Free “Where Do I Begin” Booklet Available from the American Diabetes
Association
“Where do I begin?” is often the first question patients newly diagnosed with
Type 2 diabetes ask.
Available in English or bilingual Spanish, this
free booklet from
the American Diabetes Association helps answer that question. It is also a great
way to encourage them to join the FREE
Living with Type 2 Diabetes program. This year-long program sends enrollees
more information about living with Type 2 diabetes, new recipes to try, and
opportunities to find support from others living with diabetes.
Enrollment is free and easy!
Patients can enroll:
By sending a completed
Business Reply Card found in Where Do I Begin? Booklet
See an
overview of what your patients will receive, and order your
free booklets today!
July - Care4Today® Mobile Health Manager Webinar [+]
Bonus Webinar on August 4 at 2 p.m. Eastern! Care4Today®
Mobile Health Manager
Approximately 50% of patients with chronic illnesses do not take
their medications as prescribed, a serious problem that can cause
delayed recovery, disease relapse, and hospitalization. In today’s
fast-paced world, people often overlook taking medications at the
right time every day. There are many reasons people don’t take their
medications, but the most commonly cited reason is they simply
forget.
With Care4Today® Mobile Health Manager 2.0, consumers can set up
reminders for any kind of prescription or over-the-counter
medication, nutritional supplement, and refills, or customize
reminders for personal goals or activities. The platform is
available in multiple languages and uses secure, two-way messaging
on mobile phones, and each reminder message prompts a response that
is recorded in the user’s adherence report. Users can view reports
summarizing adherence and share the information with their
healthcare provider or caretaker.
Together 2 Goal® invites you to a bonus webinar to learn more
about this innovative resource from Principal Corporate Collaborator
Johnson and Johnson Family of Diabetes Companies and AMGA member
Sharp Community Medical Group who will share their experiences
implementing the Care4Today® app.
To register for the bonus webinar, please click
here.
Together 2 Goal® “Quick Wins”
To help participating AMGA members implement best practices and address many of
the common challenges associated with effectively managing Type 2 diabetes, the
AMGA Foundation produced the Together 2 Goal® Campaign Toolkit. This
free Toolkit (available for download
here) is
a living document and will be updated throughout the campaign.
“Quick wins” can generate momentum and sustain enthusiasm for the campaign
over time. By breaking down each plank into a number of smaller steps and
accomplishing one, morale will be boosted, progress will be perceived, and
leadership will be engaged. Consider implementing one of these “quick wins” to
showcase your success early in campaign implementation:
Build an Accountable Diabetes Team: Assemble the team
and schedule the first meeting of the diabetes team.
Integrate Emotional and Behavioral Support: Share the
“Emotional Side of Diabetes – 10 Things You Should Know” booklet from
Behavioral Diabetes Institute (enclosed in the hard copy of the Toolkit
mailed to your Primary Contact) with your team and discuss as a group.
Refer to Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
Programs: If you currently offer or refer to a diabetes
self-management education (DSME) program, audit how many patients are
currently or have participated in programs in the past year. If you do not
currently offer or refer to a DSME program, identify DSME programs in your
area and meet with one to explore a potential partnership.
Conduct Practice-Based Screening: Run a report of
patients with an HbA1c ≥ 6.5 in the past year who do not have a diagnosis of
diabetes on their problem list.
Adopt Treatment Algorithm: If you currently have a
treatment algorithm, review the guidelines with your diabetes team. If you
don’t have one, meet with the campaign’s most prominent supporter at your
organization to determine the next steps in developing or adopting a
treatment algorithm.
Measure HbA1c Every 3-6 Months: Run a list of patients
with diabetes without an HbA1c in the last 12 months.
Assess and Address Risk of Cardiovascular Disease:
Identify 1-2 physicians willing to integrate cardiovascular disease risk
assessment using the ACC/AHA ASCVD Risk Calculator into their workflow as a
pilot project.
Contact Patients Not at Goal and with Therapy Change within 30
Days: Run a report of patients whose last A1c > 9 without an office
visit in the past six months.
Use a Patient Registry: If you currently use a patient
registry, work with your vendor to determine if there are useful reports
within the registry that you may not be using. If you do not currently use a
patient registry, schedule a meeting with your EHR vendor to discuss
registry options.
Embed Point-of-Care Tools: If you currently embed
point-of-care tools, conduct an inventory of the diabetes-specific tools
that have been implemented. If you do not currently embed point-of-care
tools, inventory the diabetes tools available in your EHR.
Publish Transparent Internal Reports: If you currently
publish transparent internal reports, host a small focus group to understand
perceptions and effectiveness of current reports. If you do not currently
publish transparent internal reports, pilot transparent internal reports at
one site of care.
A New Language for Diabetes: Improving Communications With and About People
With Diabetes
Our first resource of the month is an important position statement from
Diabetes Australia. Though it was originally published in July 2011, the
thought-provoking information remains just as relevant five years later.
In the position statement, available
here, Diabetes Australia emphasizes the power of language and how certain
words and phrases can affect the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of people
with diabetes.
As you build your Together 2 Goal® team, we recommend reviewing and
discussing this resource together. How does your organization use language
related to those with diabetes? Is it empowering? De-motivating or harmful?
Reflect on how changing language can reframe the management of Type 2 diabetes
for your medical group or health system.
The position statement points out how language can:
Be inaccurate and harmful,
Reveal negative attitudes,
Reflect unrealistic ideas
about diabetes, and
Influence outcomes.
Consider terms frequently used in the healthcare setting by providers, care
team members, and staff – such as diabetic, compliant, testing, or disease. Each
of these word choices can have a negative connotation by people with diabetes.
Diabetic, for instance, “defines the individual as their health condition. It is
better to emphasize the person’s ability to live with diabetes. Labeling someone
as ‘diabetic’ positions diabetes as the defining factor of their life.” This
undertone is why you’ll often see Together 2 Goal® refer to “people with
diabetes” instead of the alternative term.
Another term to be avoided is “(non-) compliant” or “(non-) adherent.”
According to Diabetes Australia, “Such terms characterize the individual as
cooperative or uncooperative, especially when used as adjectives to describe the
person rather than the behavior. Using these labels can mean opportunities are
lost to ask relevant questions, describe collaborative goals, tailor treatment
regimens, and make referrals that actively support the person to manage his or
her diabetes.” While there is no single, convenient alternative term, use
instead words that describe collaborative goal-setting.
A New Language for Diabetes has over 10 other examples of language to be
avoided, rationale, and examples of preferred language.
This preferred language should instead:
Promote active engagement,
Support the self-care
efforts people make, and
Acknowledge the
frustrations, anxieties, guilt, and distress that many people with diabetes
experience.
In verbal or written interactions, consider these 10 recommendations from
Diabetes Australia:
Be aware of the language you use.
Take your language seriously.
Remember
language reflects attitude.
Remember everyone is different.
Inform but don’t
judge.
Be understood.
Take a holistic approach.
Focus on the achievable.
Appreciate that the meaning and acceptability of words and phrases changes over
time.
Remember language creates reality.
For more information about each of these recommendations, as well as to learn
more about improving communications with and about people with diabetes, please
read the comprehensive document
here.
The first annual Together 2 Goal® National Day of Action on
November 3 was a major success, empowering millions across the
nation to better manage diabetes.
In the position statement, available
