Stamp Out Inefficiency in Diabetes Management

I recommend having a “diabetes stamp” made up that includes in its imprint fasting blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin A_1c, urine microalbumin, ECG, eye examination, podiatric examination, flu shot, and pneumococcal vaccine—along with lines on which to write dates and results. Abbreviations can be used for the longer items. Having a nurse or patient care technician use this to stamp the chart of each patient with diabetes and then fill in the grid makes it easy to locate pertinent information and serves as a reminder to the clinician to address quality improvement indicators.

—— Sabesan Karuppiah, MD