Interdisciplinary diabetic team in a community hospital.

An interdisciplinary diabetic team which provides inpatient and outpatient diabetic instructional services in a 200-bed community hospital is discussed. The team consists of a pharmacist, a dietitian, and a registered nurse, each of whom is assigned to a specific area of diabetic education. Instructional objectives include coordination of teaching efforts by hospital personnel, standardization of education, and development of evaluation procedures. Upon notification of a physician request for diabetic team services, a form which contains competency-based instructional objectives and patient referral questions is placed in the patient's chart. Diabetic instruction may then be initiated by ward personnel or a member of the diabetic team. Outpatient classes are offered for those who desire or require additional or indepth instruction.