(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Earlier this month the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation's Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), launched an online integrated diabetes care education programme for primary healthcare providers.
The programme is part of the work being undertaken by the Qatar National Diabetes Strategy 2016-2022 implementation team.
The accredited continuing professional development (CPD) programme, specifically aimed at primary care physicians, nurses, and patient educators who provide diabetes care is entitled ‘Integrated Diabetes Care'.
The programme will run for one year and includes 25, one-hour sessions that are delivered through Microsoft Teams. Each session is a stand-alone webinar, with participants able to complete as many sessions as are of interest. Each session can accommodate up to 200 healthcare professionals.
Prof Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, co-chair of the National Diabetes Committee and director of the Qatar Metabolic Institute (QMI) said the programme aims to provide healthcare teams in the primary care setting with the tools they need to provide integrated diabetes care that is tailored to the needs of patients.
'The Integrated Diabetes Care webinars offer a unique opportunity for sharing knowledge and implement a standardised national diabetes curriculum between primary and secondary healthcare professionals. Implementing the new integrated diabetes care model, as described in the Qatar National Diabetes Strategy, requires all parts of the healthcare system to work together to deliver all the components of the care pathway, said Prof Abou-Samra.
Dr Samya Ahmad al-Abdulla, senior consultant family medicine and executive director of operations at PHCC said her organisation is committed to providing person-centred, integrated care.
'Integration across the health system sits at the cornerstone of Primary Health Care Corporation's Corporate Strategic Plan 2019-2023. The majority of diabetic patients are seen, and provided with care, in primary care facilities. Collaborative initiatives have been proven to benefit our patients and reduce the health burden of diabetes in the community, said Dr al-Abdulla.
Dr Buthaina Alowinati, senior consultant, endocrinologist, HMC and a member of the Scientific and Planning Committee, Qatar Diabetes Association, described the curriculum as a ‘unique online programme delivered by HMC endocrinologists and diabetes educators with expertise in the field. The curriculum has been designed in collaboration with PHCC's Workforce Development and Training Directorate and is being led by Dr Nora A M Almutawa, senior consultant, Family Medicine and head of clinical training. Dr Almutawa said the training has been tailored to the needs of PHCC healthcare professionals, providing an update on new developments and changes in diabetes care.
Dr Shahrad Taheri, professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar and chair of the Research Committee for the National Diabetes Strategy at the Ministry of Public Health and QMI said there is international evidence demonstrating that joint working between primary and secondary/tertiary care improves the quality and efficiency of diabetes services.
'This programme comes as a key enabler of integration. It provides continuing diabetes education for primary care healthcare professionals, including clinicians, nurses, and diabetes educators, and enhances diabetes care co-ordination between primary and secondary care, said Dr Taheri.
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