Beaver Medical Group Improves Diabetic Patient Care

Efforts by Eight Clinics Result in Increased Screening of 6,000 Diabetics

REDLANDS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Representatives of Redlands-based Beaver Medical Group presented the results of an initiative to improve patient health at a conference in San Diego last month, highlighting progress made with management of diabetic patients.

“Increasing A1C screening is helpful because if a patient's A1C is high, we can work with them to adjust their medication, diet and lifestyle to reduce the risk of diabetic complications”

The 14-month program set performance benchmarks for care of Beaver Medical’s roughly 6,000 diabetic patients, and aggressive outreach efforts by Beaver doctors and staff resulted in more of the patients coming in for important annual blood work.

“It’s important to regularly monitor diabetics’ blood sugar control, cholesterol and blood pressure, and the Chronic Care Collaborative helped in getting more of our patients tested so our doctors and staff can help them better manage their condition,” said Kayla Pelletier, Beaver’s Director of Health Education and the Project Manager for the collaborative.

Pelletier presented an overview of the program’s implementation and results along with Dr. Robert W. Castillo, Beaver’s Medical Director of Quality Management, at the Health Net Strength of Quality Conference Nov. 10 in San Diego.

Beaver exceeded all of its goals in the program, which was spearheaded by the California Quality Collaborative. Beaver has now been accepted as a participant in the new Compass Program, which will allow Beaver to build upon the efforts of the last collaborative.

One key result of the Chronic Care Collaborative was that Beaver exceeded its goal for decreasing the percentage of diabetic patients with a high A1C test result, or no result. An A1C is a common test that reflects blood sugar levels over a two- to three-month period.

That percentage dropped from 26 percent to 19 percent, which puts Beaver above the 90th percentile for that measurement statewide—considered outstanding, Pelletier said.

“Increasing A1C screening is helpful because if a patient's A1C is high, we can work with them to adjust their medication, diet and lifestyle to reduce the risk of diabetic complications,” Castillo said.

Beaver also surpassed its goal for the percentage of the patients having an LDL cholesterol test within 12 months.

Beaver Medical Group’s Health Education staff teaches free classes on diabetes management, weight management and general wellness to help keep patients healthy. Find out more about classes, doctors and services at www.beavermedicalgroup.com or call [phone].