Improving diabetic foot care in a nurse-managed safety-net clinic

Abstract

Purpose: This article is a description of the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Care Program and assessment tool in an academically affiliated nurse-managed, multidisciplinary, safety-net clinic. The assessment tool parallels parameters identified in the Task Force Foot Care Interest Group of the American Diabetes Association's report published in 2008, "Comprehensive Foot Examination and Risk Assessment."

Data sources: Review of literature, Silver City Health Center's (SCHC) 2009 Annual Report, retrospective chart review.

Conclusions: Since the full implementation of SCHC's Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Care Program, there have been no hospitalizations of clinic patients for foot-related complications.

Implications for practice: The development of the Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Assessment tool and the implementation of the Comprehensive Diabetic Foot Care Program have resulted in positive outcomes for the patients in a nurse-managed safety-net clinic. This article demonstrates that quality healthcare services can successfully be developed and implemented in a safety-net clinic setting.

Keywords: Diabetes; clinical decision making; early intervention; evidence-based practice; nurse practitioners; nurse-managed clinics; risk reduction.