A major feature of our practice model involves the inclusion of Case Managers who have primary responsibility for patients who are assigned to them. Case managers are trained doctors who are experts in diabetes and its complications. Their work is overseen by a Physician who is a specialist in endocrinology and treatment of diabetes. A research project conducted at BCDiabetes (Li et al., 2017) indicated that inclusion of Case Managers, who regularly interact directly with patients for extended periods, resulted in lowered blood sugar, and reduced diabetes-related distress. The Case Manager evaluates patients, monitors all aspects of their health, develops treatment plans, educates patients about their disease, complications and treatments, facilitates rapid changes in interventions, and reports findings and proposed treatments to the managing Physician.
Case Managers see a limited number of patients, but spend substantial amounts of time with them. This significantly improves quality of care. Importantly, it provides patients with a contact person who knows them and their issues intimately, and who can be contacted quickly with questions and concerns.
A diabetes specialist oversees several Case Managers. This permits a single physician to manage the care of many more patients than would otherwise be possible, while still providing exceptional care.
