Collaborative Care & Advocacy Flashcards

Which actions demonstrate effective collaboration with an interdisciplinary diabetes care team?

Answer: Sharing the patient’s self-monitoring blood glucose data with the team

Effective collaboration with an interdisciplinary diabetes care team involves open communication and sharing relevant patient data, such as self-monitoring blood glucose data, to ensure coordinated care. Encouraging referrals to other specialists like a dietitian for meal planning support and discussing patient progress in team meetings also demonstrate collaboration. Assuming a physician will handle all medication concerns without input from the CDCES is not a collaborative approach.

What is the role of a CDCES in advocating for a person with diabetes?

Answer: Ensuring access to diabetes education and resources

A CDCES advocates for persons with diabetes by ensuring access to essential diabetes education and resources, and by promoting policies that improve diabetes care coverage. They also help patients navigate insurance or financial barriers and support them in expressing their healthcare needs to providers. Advocacy focuses on removing systemic and individual obstacles to optimal diabetes management.

A patient reports difficulty affording their prescribed diabetes medications. What steps should a CDCES take?

Answer: Refer the patient to a social worker or financial assistance program

When a patient reports difficulty affording medications, a CDCES should act as an advocate and resource navigator. Appropriate steps include referring the patient to a social worker or financial assistance program, discussing lower-cost or generic alternatives with the healthcare provider, and helping the patient explore pharmaceutical patient assistance programs. Recommending they stop medications or ignoring the issue is unsafe and unprofessional.

A patient struggles to follow their diabetes care plan due to cultural food preferences. What should a CDCES do?

Answer: Work with a registered dietitian to modify the plan to include cultural foods

To address cultural food preferences, a CDCES should collaborate with a registered dietitian to modify the meal plan, ensuring it is culturally sensitive and sustainable for the patient. Asking about traditional foods to identify healthier preparation methods and including culturally appropriate resources and recipes are also excellent strategies. Discouraging cultural eating habits is disrespectful and counterproductive to adherence.

What strategies can a CDCES use to promote shared decision-making during a patient consultation?

Answer: Asking the patient about their personal goals and priorities

Promoting shared decision-making involves actively engaging the patient in their care plan by asking about their personal goals and priorities. It also includes presenting treatment options with their risks and benefits, and allowing ample time for the patient to ask questions and share concerns. This approach respects patient autonomy and ensures the care plan aligns with their values and preferences.