Manage diabetes with your 'Medical Home' team
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, diabetes can get out of control. And you may need a little extra help to manage it. This is when it's good to have a medical home care team.
The Minnesota Department of Health certified all 36 Allina Medical Clinic primary care clinics as health care homes. Also called "medical homes," these clinics take a team approach to managing your health.
A medical home team starts with the patient and his or her primary care provider. Team members may also include nurses, specialists, family members – anyone involved in a patient's care.
"The care team works with a patient to develop a plan and goals to manage their care, and helps the patient meet their goals," says Susan Klug, medical home project coordinator, Allina Medical Clinic.
"For example, if your doctor has concerns about your diabetes, he may ask your permission to refer you to a clinic care manager," says Klug.
As a member of the care team, clinic care managers are registered nurses who help people understand and manage chronic (long-lasting) diseases like diabetes.
"A clinic care manager will work with you to develop a diabetes care plan and goals to meet your individual needs, then help you to follow through" says Klug.
To help you reach your goals, a clinic care manager will do the following:
- Make sure you understand instructions written by your doctor during a clinic visit.
- Develop a patient-centered care plan and goals.
- Provide coaching, follow-up or answer questions in between appointments.
- Update your doctor about your progress so that he or she is working with current information at your next appointment.
- Connect you with a diabetes nurse and/or nutrition educator who can help you with your plan and goals.
- Connect you with diabetes education, low-price medicine or supplies, support groups, community organizations or other resources that can help you manage your diabetes.
For more about Allina care managers, call 651-635-9173 or 1-800-261-0879.
To find an Allina Medical Clinic primary care clinic, go to allinamedicalclinic.com.
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