Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) provides an evidence-based foundation to help people with diabetes navigate self-management decisions and activities. DSMES is a cost-effective tool proven to help improve health behaviors and health outcomes for people with diabetes.
DSMES has been shown to improve health outcomes. However, despite considerable evidence that DSMES services are cost-effective and have a positive impact on diabetes-related outcomes, utilization of DSMES services is suboptimal. In the United States, less than 5% of Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes and 6.8% of privately insured people with diagnosed diabetes have used DSMES services.
Technological advances have contributed to the expansion of virtual care options in diabetes care, allowing for the telehealth delivery of DSMES to be accessible and feasible. In fact, telehealth DSMES services are well-suited for patient assessment, education, and support.
This course is designed to provide information on how to adopt and integrate telehealth technologies into accredited and recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education & Support (DSMES) programs to increase patient participation and engagement in diabetes education and improve outcomes.
Course Highlights:
Purpose of Using Telehealth Strategies for Delivering Diabetes Self-Management Education & Support (DSMES):
Improves:
- Patient access to care
- Patient engagement and outcomes
- Communication with patients
- Scalability of programs
- Efficient use of time & resources
Learning Objectives:
After completing this activity, participants should be better able to:
- Define terminology related to DSMES
- Explain the rationale for telehealth delivery of DSMES
- Understand how telehealth can be used to provide DSMES
- Identify steps for implementing telehealth for DSMES
- Understand reimbursement for telehealth for DSMES
Authored by:
Viola F. Holmes, MS, RD, CDE
Funded through CDC Cooperative Agreement NU58DP006620-InnoVAte in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Virginia Department of Health.
*Purchase grants one learner one year’s access to lessons and quizzes (access expires 365 days from date of course activation.)