Education specialist

Job Description

The Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) works under the supervision of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and is a key member of the healthcare team.

The CDCES possesses clinical expertise in care related to diabetes management and education and other chronic diseases.

RESPONSIBLITIES AND DUTIES :

Provide diabetes and self-management guidance and education to pre-diabetics, type 1, type2, and gestational diabetic patients.

Develop individualized diabetes education plans for patients in collaboration with medical provider and monitor adherence to plan.

Individualized education plans shall consider different cultural, physical, cognitive, and literacy levels of patients and families and meet evolving needs of patient.

Plan, develop, and implement individual and group diabetes education strategies for patients through their life span and their families and caregivers, in collaboration with the Community Health & Wellness diabetes prevention program manager and the community health workers.

Provide nutritional counseling for weight control and diabetes management. Use comprehensive knowledge of nutrition to assist patients with meal planning.

Teach patients to manage blood glucose with carbohydrate counting and to manage weight with calorie counting. Monitor patient diet diaries.

In collaboration with patient and health coaches, develop a physical activity plan that accommodates patients' needs, abilities, and self-management goals, and monitor progress.

s. Assist medical provider in assessing need for, and frequency, of self-glucose monitoring and teach patients self-glucose monitoring.

Instruct patients and family members on medication safety including preventing, recognizing, and treating hypoglycemia. Collaborate with medical provider in adjusting oral medication and insulin doses according to blood glucose measurements, dietary habits, and individual barriers to care.

Work with patient and the care team to ensure patient has access to medications and does not run out of insulin or other medications and to ensure patient keeps appointments with medical provider and CDCES for diabetes monitoring.

Identify individual social and emotional barriers (such as depression) to compliance with treatment plan, and refer patient to appropriate team member, such as case manager and / or integrated behavioral health counselor

Assist provider in monitoring patient's diabetes care flow sheet, ensuring patient gets timely recommended preventive and monitoring tests, treatments, and referrals per diabetes care guidelines.

Facilitate coordination of care across specialty care, facility-based care, and community organizations.

Assist in the review and / or the development of clinical practice guidelines. Serves as content expert for diabetes education and management.

Assist in the development of policies and procedures for diabetes and health education guidelines.

Assist in the Indian Health Service Diabetes Care and Outcomes Audit to asses diabetes care and health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Natives with diagnosed diabetes annually.

Support the organization as needed.

Last updated : 2024-03-02