SHM's Glycemic Control Mentored Implementation Targets Hyperglycemia

Society's newest quality improvement project designed to reduce hyperglycemia in 30 hospitals nationwide

(PHILADELPHIA - October 5, 2009) The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) is announcing the launch of its new Glycemic Control Mentored Implementation (GCMI) project. Now in place in 30 hospitals across the country, the new program will improve early detection and treatment of hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients.

Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the fourth most common co-morbid condition complicating all hospital discharges. Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, in hospitalized patients complicates a variety of illnesses and is an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes. 

GCMI, supported by funding from sanofi-aventis, US, LLC, utilizes mentors, glycemic control and quality improvement experts, to provide direct support to hospitalist-led healthcare teams. Each team enrolled in the two-year project receives a dedicated mentor, as well as web-based and print resources on glycemic control.  

This project will address the use of both subcutaneous and intravenous administration of insulin, the two most common methods for managing glycemic levels in the hospital. Specific topics include: 

• Access to subcutaneous insulin on the general medical/surgical floor
• Intravenous insulin infusion in the intensive care unit
• Transitioning patients from intravenous to subcutaneous insulin
• Transitioning patients home on insulin therapy

"Glycemic control is an important quality and patient safety issue that should be addressed in every hospital," said Jane Kelly-Cummings, RN, CPHQ, Senior Director of Quality Improvement for SHM. "GCMI addresses the pertinent clinical and system issues which will assist hospitals to improve the care of diabetic patients to decrease the incidences of hyper and hypoglycemia, whereby reducing the number of complications associated with this condition."

The following sites have been selected to participate in the new project:

• Abbott Northwestern Hospital- Minneapolis, MN
• Alexian Brothers Medical Center- Elk Grove Village, IL
• Baptist Hospital Saint Thomas Health Systems- Brentwood, TN
• Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center- Plattsburgh, NY
• Cooper University Hospital- Camden, NJ
• Duke Raleigh Hospital- Raleigh, NC
• Emory University Hospital- Snellville, GA
• Exeter Hospital- Exeter, NH
• Healthcare Authority for Medical West- Bessemer, AL
• John C. Lincoln Hospital North Mountain- Phoenix, AZ
• Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center- Clackamas, OR
• Kentfield Rehabilitation and Specialty Hospital- Kentfield, CA
• Kootenai Medical Center- Coeur d'Alene, ID
• Lakeland Regional Medical Center- Lakeland, FL
• Luther Hospital- Eau Claire, WI
• Memorial Medical Center- Springfield, IL
• Mercy Iowa City- Iowa City, IA
• Morton Plant Hospital- Clearwater, FL
• Multicare Health System Tacoma General Hospital- Tacoma, WA
• Oneida Healthcare Center- Oneida, NY
• Penrose-St. Francis Medical Center- Main Campus- Colorado Springs, CO
• Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center- Portland, OR
• Poudre Valley Health System- Fort Collins, CO
• Providence Portland Medical Center- Portland, OR
• Sacramento Sutter Medical Center- Sacramento, CA
• St. Mary's Hospital- San Francisco, CA
• St. John's Mercy Medical Center- St. Louis, MO
• The George Washington University Medical Center- Washington, DC
• Thomas Jefferson University Hospital- Philadelphia, PA
• University of Virginia Medical Center- Charlottesville, VA

For more information on the Glycemic Control Mentored Implementation Program, please contact Ann Nolan at anolan@hospitalmedicine.org or 267-702-2674.

ABOUT SHM

SHM is the premier medical society representing hospitalists. Over the past decade, studies have shown that hospitalists decrease patient lengths of stay, reduce hospital costs and readmission rates, all while increasing patient satisfaction. Hospital medicine is the fastest-growing specialty in modern healthcare, with over 31,000 hospitalists currently practicing and an upward growth trajectory in full force. For more information about SHM, visit www.hospitalmedicine.org.