Importance of Diabetic Patient Assessment

Caring for patients with diabetes and those at risk requires a tailored approach that takes into account individual needs and goals.

TRANSCRIPT:
SO, AS CLINICIANS CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH DIABETES AND PEOPLE THAT ARE AT RISK, WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK, AND FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO.

WE'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO DO BETTER.

SO, THIS ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL MENTALITY IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO MOVE AWAY FROM. WHEN TREATING A DIABETIC FOOT, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL, SO, A GOOD THOROUGH WOUND ASSESSMENT, OR FOOT ASSESSMENT AND A GOOD THOROUGH PATIENT ASSESSMENT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THAT WAY WE CAN EVALUATE AND TREAT EACH INDIVIDUAL PATIENT APPROPRIATELY.

SO, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PATIENT'S GOALS ARE, WHAT THE PATIENT'S LIFESTYLE IS, WHAT IS THEIR WORK ENVIRONMENT? DO THEY STAND? DO THEY SIT? DO THEY NOT WORK? HOW MOBILE ARE THEY? WHAT TYPE OF SHOES DO THEY WEAR? WHAT MEDICATIONS DO THEY TAKE? WHAT OTHER COMORBIDITIES DO THEY HAVE? SO, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET TO KNOW OUR PATIENTS.

AND DO A FULL PATIENT ASSESSMENT.

AND REALLY DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR PATIENTS.

BECAUSE, I THINK, WHEN A PATIENT FEELS ENGAGED WITH THEIR PROVIDER, WE HAVE A BETTER CHANCE FOR GOOD OUTCOMES.