Diabetic Foot Exams

Why is this important?

Persons with diabetes may lose sensation in their toes and feet.  Should this happen, they are at high risk for developing pressure ulcers that can quickly progress to severe infections in the feet and legs.  These ulcers are often very difficult to heal and may lead to amputation of the foot, a severe event associated with diabetes.  Physicians who perform simple, routine foot screenings on their diabetic patients are more likely to detect an infection early enough to treat it with medication and possibly avoid amputation.

 

 

How WellSpan Compares

The graph below shows the percentage of the WellSpan Medical Group’s diabetic patients who have had their feet examined at least once a year to detect loss of sensation.

Unit of Measurement: Percentage

A higher score is better than a lower score.

What we are doing to improve our performance.

Staff members are required to check the feet of all diabetes patients during every visit.  This common technique is used to screen a patient with diabetes for peripheral neuropathy, which often affects people with diabetes and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.  Staff members are responsible and accountable for documenting the test in the patient’s chart.  In addition: ·         Each practice that fell below the Medical Group average for any of the quality indicators was requested to submit a specific action plan to improve compliance. ·         Quarterly, Medical Group administration and physicians at each site will review progress on making changes to enhance compliance. ·         Sites are conducting more in-house audits on specific indicators to monitor how changes are impacting compliance. ·         Through its electronic health record, WellSpan may automatically remind physicians and clinical staff when a preventive service is required for each patient. ·         A Preventive Health Task Force reviews and compiles the most recent recommendations for providing good preventive health services; recommendations are distributed periodically to Medical Group physicians.