1. Interdisciplinary treatment of diabetes mellitus in a military treatment facility.
- Author
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Earles JE, Hartung GH, Dickert JM, Moriyama HH, Coll KJ, Aiello LM, Jackson R, and Polonsky W
- Subjects
- Comprehensive Health Care, Female, Hawaii, Hospitals, Military, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Military Medicine, Diabetes Mellitus therapy, Patient Care Team organization & administration
- Abstract
The American Diabetes Association emphasizes interdisciplinary management as the standard of care for patients with diabetes. Many times, however, interdisciplinary means various health care professionals treating a patient but not necessarily interacting with each other regarding the patient's care. Recently, Tripler Army Medical Center replicated the Joslin Diabetes Center's diabetes outpatient intensive treatment program as part of a Joslin Diabetes Center/Department of Defense/Veteran's Administration research collaboration. Tripler Army Medical Center named this interdisciplinary program Holopono, which is Hawaiian for success. Holopono is a team of health care professionals providing integrated care and education to a group of diabetes patients over 3.5 days. Individual care management, aided by an Internet-based telemedicine system, then continues for 1 year after entry into the program. This article describes the Holopono program, the role of each team member, and how the team functions together to provide comprehensive diabetes care.
- Published
- 2001