Need for Creating a Policy and Practice Guidelines Current Benchmark for the Organization

The statistics from the dashboard reveal concerns over a fall in HgbA1c tests as well as a simultaneous decrease in foot inspections. Both of these trends are concerning. According to the MMC dashboard, the number of inspections dropped dramatically between the first and fourth quarters. The frequency of HbA1c checks and foot examinations has dropped by 95% (Vila Health, 2018). According to the findings of the National Healthcare Quality and Disparity Report, patients with diabetes who received diabetic foot care and patient education as a component of their short-stay home health care fulfilled national objectives at a rate of 98.6 % (National Healthcare Quality and Disparity Report, 2020). This fraction also takes into account diabetic patients who were at least 40 years old and who had at least two hemoglobin A1c tests carried out during the corresponding fiscal year (National Healthcare Quality and Disparity Report, 2020). The achievement of a value that is at least 90% of the value of the benchmark would be considered a successful effort for MMC.

 Effect of Benchmark Underperformance

Patients diagnosed with diabetes need a comprehensive treatment plan that is carried out by a group of medical professionals who are specialists in their respective disciplines. HbA1c testing and diabetic foot exams are very necessary to aid patients in managing their disease for a longer period and to discover potential issues associated with diabetes at an earlier stage (Manu et al., 2018). Screening for diabetic foot issues, which may result in permanent impairment or even death, is thus regarded as a crucial component of the management of diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), testing for hemoglobin A1c is one of the most common methods used in diabetes screening and is regarded as an essential component of diabetes therapy and management, thus MMC should raise the bar of quality and make policies to resolve the underperforming benchmarks (Manu et al., 2018).

Repercussions of not making any Changes

The increased financial burden and decreased quality of life would be experienced by diabetic patients as a direct result of inadequate treatment standards for diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2020). Careful management of patients suffering from this condition is required for MMC to continue to provide high-quality treatment and to retain its position as one of the premier healthcare facilities in the state (Vila Health, 2018). Type 2 diabetics have their blood sugar checked regularly to monitor their condition and detect any issues early on. As an immediate short-term indication, blood glucose tests and foot examinations may be utilized (Imai et al., 2021). HbA1c testing has become the standard of care for keeping tabs on and managing T2DM. ischemic heart disease (IHD), foot ulcers, and chronic renal disease are some of the consequences that might arise if HbA1c levels are not monitored or foot examinations are not thoroughly done (Imai et al., 2021).

Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines

Evidence-Based Literature

According to the management at MMC, the processes for diagnosing and treating diabetes at the facility need to undergo some modernization. The dashboards indicate that there may be a flaw in the screening criteria, as there is a drastic drop in screening rates. This flaw is OnlineClassAssignment.com indicated by the fact that screening rates have fallen dramatically. Probably, some of the 5 physicians engaged in this case might not have the appropriate training to manage diabetes. Along with regular monitoring, medication, and counseling, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests that clinicians instruct their type 2 diabetes patients about the condition and how it may be prevented in addition to providing these services (Powers et al., 2020). Additionally, nurses and providers should provide culturally competent care (Powers et al., 2020). Since T2DM often presents with no or mild symptoms initially, it may be difficult to diagnose. It is possible that the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications may be avoided or at least delayed if the condition is diagnosed and treated early in otherwise healthy people (Peer et al., 2020).

Local, State or Federal Healthcare Policy

To make progress and meet the standards established by federal, state, and local governments, evidence-based procedures must be implemented. One of these tactics is using a Chronic Care Model (CCM) that has improved healthcare results (Boehmer et al., 2018). With the aid of this method, the standards for treating and managing diabetes have been achieved. The use of the CCM in combination with the diabetic algorithm helps to prevent any gaps in treatment from occurring (Boehmer et al., 2018).