The Arduous Path Toward Equitable Access to Endocrinology Care.

Multiple factors contribute to the widening gap between supply and demand of endocrinology services. In addition to the inadequate growth of the workforce, the inefficient utilization of endocrinologists' expertise coupled with the rising prevalence of endocrine conditions has generated a crisis in access to specialty care. This mismatch is magnified in underserved communities and among certain racial/ethnic groups that carry a disproportionate burden of chronic diseases, like diabetes and osteoporosis, thus perpetuating the cycle of health disparities in vulnerable populations.

Treatment approaches and costs associated with diabetes clinical metrics as measured by Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS).

Background: The clinical outcomes of diabetes can be influenced by primary care providers' (PCP) treatment approaches. This study explores the association between PCP approaches to management and performance measured by established diabetes metrics and related costs.

Methods: In phase one, Electronic Medical Records were used to extract diabetes related metrics using Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), for patients with diabetes who had office visits to 44 PCP practices from April 2019 to March 2020.

Hospital-Care Utilization and Medical Cost Patterns Among Patients With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes.

Objective: Using claims data from an integrated payer-provider, we compared costs incurred by patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) who received Hospital Inpatient/Observation/EmeRgency Department care (HIghER care) for diabetes-related events with those who did not receive such care to identify a target population for interventions in future studies.

Methods: A retrospective study pooled real-world claims data for IDDM (type 1 or type 2) between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019. Medical claims were used to calculate the total and diabetes-related allowed medical costs to the enterprise and per member per month costs.

Glycemic Control in Hospitalized Patients with Diabetes Receiving Corticosteroids Using a Neutral Protamine Hagedorn Insulin Protocol: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Hospitalized patients with diabetes receiving corticosteroids are at risk of developing hyperglycemia and related complications. This study evaluated a neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin-based protocol in improving glycemic control in hospitalized patients receiving corticosteroids.

Methods: This was a randomized, prospective, non-blinded study in an inpatient setting involving patients with diabetes who were hospitalized and receiving prednisone ≥ 10 mg per day or equivalent.