A Nurse Practitioner-Led Multidisciplinary Diabetes Clinic for Adult Patients Discharged From Hospital.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of a nurse practitioner-led outpatient clinic (NPC) to facilitate the safe transition of patients with diabetes receiving insulin therapy between hospital and the community.

METHODS

An NPC was set up to manage patients who had diabetes education in hospital and who were discharged on insulin. In addition to patient demographics and admission diagnosis, days seen postdischarge, duration of follow up, diabetes interventions and discharge care plan were recorded. For quality improvement, patients were asked to complete a questionnaire at the time of discharge from the NPC.

RESULTS

Within a 12-month period, 71 patients with diabetes attended the NPC 3 to 21 days after discharge and they were followed for 1 to 98 days. Thirteen patients required management of hypoglycemia and 56 patients had adjustment of medications to basal/prandial insulin or switched to oral antihyperglycemic agents. Fifty-four patients were returned to the care of their family physicians and 18 patients required a referral to a diabetes specialist. A postclinic questionnaire indicated that the clinic enabled patients to improve management of their diabetes. However, communication of the diabetes management plan to the family physician was an identified concern.

CONCLUSIONS

An NPC clinic can provide timely management and is a viable option to ensure safe transition of patients with diabetes from hospital back to their family physicians.