By Steve Marriott on June 16, 2017
The Quality Institute for Self Management Education & Training (QISMET) has awarded Spirit’s EMPOWER Structured Diabetes Education programme its Diabetes Self Management Education (DSME) Quality Standard¹.
Designed as a way for providers to demonstrate they follow best practice, the DSME Quality Standard is awarded to self-management education programmes that meet relevant national criteria, including the NICE Guidelines published in December 2015. Certification is granted following a stringent quality-assurance and audit process conducted by QISMET as an independent not-for-profit body that supports self-management providers and commissioners to achieve the highest possible quality service for people living with long-term health conditions.
Spirit’s EMPOWER programme was audited during April and May 2017 and was commended for meeting the DSME’s specific requirements in its five key areas, including:
- The Management & Structure of the Provider;
- Evidence-based Programmes tailored to the Needs of the Patient;
- Structured Theory-driven Curriculum with Aims and Learning Objectives;
- Delivery by Trained Educators
- Performance Management, including regular Audits of Outcomes
Tim Loveridge, Managing Director Clinical Services, Spirit, comments: “We are delighted to have been awarded the DSME Quality Standard for our EMPOWER structured diabetes education programme. Although NICE endorses the use of structured education at the time of initial diagnosis, the national average recorded uptake rate for people with type 2 diabetes is only 7.6%. EMPOWER has been designed to address this.
By enhancing both access to education and attendance, we are achieving uptake rates of 44% and delivering improvements in clinical markers. From a clinical perspective, EMPOWER also improves efficiency in resourcing and supports the NHS’ long term cost savings objectives.”
Spirit’s EMPOWER programme is delivered as a fully managed service, ensuring the necessary time and resource to make it happen whilst improving staff efficiency. Courses are delivered locally, closer to home, at convenient times across a variety of venues and locations for improved uptake. Its outcomes-based approach is proven to support improvements in clinical outcomes resulting in population health benefits and long term cost savings.
Graham Baker, Director, QISMET, adds: “We are very pleased to have certificated Spirit’s EMPOWER programme. Our standards and audit process are very rigorous. It was noted during the audit that managers demonstrated a very high level of dedication and hard work in order to produce an effective programme and there was an excellent level of commitment to the programme from all staff and exemplary communication with managers and commissioners.”
Spirit can now use the QISMET certificated logo to demonstrate to commissioners that they have reached a very high level of performance.
