Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and lower-limb amputations.
New York Chapter American College of Physicians (NYACP)
New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians
Meg McCarthy
mmccarthy@nyacp.org
518-427-0366
The New York Chapter of the American College of Physicians (NYACP) is the state’s largest medical specialty organization. NYACP represents 11,000 physicians practicing general and specialty internal medicine. The Chapter maintains a special focus on improving access and enhancing quality of care, promoting public health and patient safety, providing continuing medical education, and promoting the use of evidence-based practice guidelines.
Reversing New York’s diabetes epidemic requires a comprehensive and coordinated response, including implementing improvements to the way that care is provided to patients with diabetes. Despite the wealth of information about best practices in the care of diabetes, many patients still do not receive the care and support they need to most effectively manage their condition. In response, NYACP has joined the Campaign as a cornerstone member of the Campaign’s Diabetes Clinical Improvement Network. As part of the Network, NYACP is working with the Campaign and other clinical partners to design and implement strategies that enhance diabetes care and improve patient outcomes in all types of primary care settings—community health centers, hospitals, and private practices.
To date, NYACP has helped 42 providers apply for NCQA certification. All NYACP members, fellows, and masters have received a complimentary copy of the ACP Diabetes Care Guide: A Team-Based Practice Manual and Self-Assessment Program as part of NYACP’s participation in the Campaign. The ACP Diabetes Care Guide, produced by the editors of the ACP Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program, provides evidence-based best practices for diabetes care and facilitates team collaboration among physicians, staff, and patients. Physicians can earn up to 15 CME credits by completing a self-assessment test then submitting it online. NYACP is also:
- Working with the Campaign’s Network partners to develop and launch a statewide, comprehensive survey to assess the needs of primary care providers in caring for their patients with diabetes.
- Recruiting internal medicine physicians and practices interested in joining the Campaign and assisting them in improving the health outcomes of their patients with diabetes. Their work will enable their members to achieve and demonstrate high standards of diabetes care, including through the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s Diabetes Recognition Program and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Physician Quality Reporting Initiative. They also will leverage opportunities for their members to complete the American Board of Internal Medicine Diabetes Practice Improvement Module.
- Convening a diabetes physician advisory group to provide clinical expertise and guide initiative activities. They also are recruiting physicians who have already achieved positive outcomes for their patients with diabetes to serve as mentors for other physicians and practices seeking to improve their diabetes outcomes.
- Working with the New York State Health Foundation’s Diabetes Policy Center and the Campaign’s other partners to advocate for policy, systems, and reimbursement changes that support primary care practice and improvements in diabetes outcomes.
URL:
http://www.nyacp.org 
