(P104) Clinical Connection to a Community Diabetes Self-Management Support Program

Key Takeaways of Your Research: 1. Clinical and self-management integration allows for a wider scope of education in a community diabetes education program, Health Extension for Diabetes (HED). This is accomplished through a clinical questions referral process (Ask-It-Basket), clinical expertise and facilitation on topics out of scope for Extension Agents, and promotion of clinical services to increase awareness. 2. The two organizations have created a bi-directional pathway for referrals to streamline access to diabetes self-management and support resources which includes the integration of an electronic health record referral process. 3. Clinical team assists with an annual curriculum review for HED based on the Standards of Care and provides continuing education for facilitators based on the yearly updates. Examples of updates include new language (such as paraprofessional to diabetes community care coordinator), updates to emphasis areas (such as cardiovascular disease risk), and program protocols (such as hypoglycemia treatment) based on the Standards of Care.

Background/Purpose: South Carolina (SC) ranks #6 for diabetes prevalence in the United States. Clemson Cooperative Extension and Prisma Health Upstate had similar goals to help individuals in SC with diabetes improve their quality of life and thus partnered through the Health Extension for Diabetes program. These organizations offered complementary community and clinical expertise through HED to help individuals with diabetes better manage their blood sugars. Research Hypothesis and/or Research Questions and Specific

Aims: Clinical connections increase access to education and support for individuals with diabetes by connecting them to information and expertise they would not normally attain from community-based health programs. Program participants have experienced positive outcomes for effective diabetes self-management to prevent or delay future complications. Methods/Methodology: • Referrals into HED from MyChart, an electronic health record system – self-reported through online survey • Regular meetings with Extension/clinical team for updates, including hypoglycemia education, training, and protocol • Yearly Standards of Care review and updates from clinical team • Clinical questions referral process (Ask-It-Basket)• Promotion of and connection to clinical services in HED program sessions.

Results: • 22 individuals referred into DSME/MNT in 2022 • 422 graduating participants educated about clinical resources through April 2022 • 38 practices sent out electronic health record messages about HED • 594 individuals indicated interest who reported that they heard about the program through the electronic health record message about HED. Conclusions (Impact on Diabetes Care and Education): This partnership allows HED facilitators and curriculum to stay updated with annual changes in the Diabetes Standards of Care, providing participants with the most accurate, evidence-based information available for diabetes self-management. The streamlined referral process between the organizations allows ease of access for participation. It also provides increased awareness of community resources and clinical education programs such as Diabetes Self-Management Education and Medical Nutrition Therapy. Source of Funding for this Research: Greenville Health Authority Grant. Authors: Melissa Bales, MS, CHES, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, Greenville, South Carolina, Danielle McFall, MS, CHES, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson, South Carolina, Ellie Lane, RYT, CPT, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, Greenville, South Carolina, Michelle Stancil, MS, BSN, RN, CDCES, Prisma Health-Upstate, Greenville, South Carolina, Celia Witt Beauchamp, MS, RD, LD, CDCES, Prisma Health-Upstate, Greenville, South Carolina, Windsor Westbrook Sherrill, PhD, MBA, MHA, Clemson University Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson, South Carolina, Michelle Parisi, PhD, RDN, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, Clemson, South Carolina.