You Can Build It, and They Will Come—Working with Industry Allies to Build Successful Continuing Education Programs for Your Hospital

One of the most important responsibilities of inpatient diabetes educators is ensuring patients admitted to the hospital with diabetes are prepared for discharge. Not all hospitals have a diabetes educator on staff. Some, only one. Either way, the educational needs, the training and preparation for discharge, must be addressed. Our 520-bed acute care hospital has 1 diabetes educator. With 40% of all patients having diabetes, a team, not 1 individual, was needed. An interactive, interdisciplinary, entertaining, boot camp-style class was created. The mission: train staff nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists to be both comfortable and confident with teaching diabetes self-management skills at the bedside. The goal: ensure diabetes patients were thoroughly prepared and safe for discharge. The cost of implementing a successful program can be a barrier to program development. To overcome this, diabetes educators who worked in industry were invited to be a part of the program. We worked closely with our Lead Nurse Planner and the Continuing Education office to be certain all policies were followed. To measure the program’s success, a pre-and post-quiz and survey were given to participants. Evaluation of quiz scores demonstrate improved understanding of key patient education information. Evaluation of the surveys reveal improved understanding and confidence with teaching diabetes “survival skills.” Class evaluations are nothing but positive. In 3 years, Diabetes Boot Camp has spread to 5 other hospitals and trained more than 250 nurses, dietitians, and pharmacists. New in 2017, the survey and quiz are mailed to participants 6 and 12 months post-class. This is to evaluate the retention and usefulness of the class over time. A Diabetes Boot Camp2 was also created. Held once thus far, this class focuses on providing healthcare providers hands on experience with insulin pumps and sensors as well as learning how to care for hospitalized patients who wear these devices. Disclosure K. Antinori-Lent: Consultant; Self; Becton, Dickinson and Company. J.F. Turka: None. K. Hawkins: Employee; Self; Dexcom, Inc..