Promoting Diabetes Self-Management: Implementing the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Statewide

Objective: RI DPCP partnered with the Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) and with Health and Human Services (HHS) to implement the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (renamed Living Well RI. (LWRI)) statewide. 

Methods: In 2007, the RI Department of Health, DEA and HHS received funding from the National Council on Aging to begin to implement the LWRI program. The three partners served initially as a steering committee but expanded the membership to a larger more representative group including the RI DPCP and Master Trainers and Leaders from LWRI and Tomando Control Diabetes. The Steering group provides support to the larger LWRI Coalition of Master Trainers and Leaders. The RI DPCP serves as the overall coordinator with emphasis on LWRI for people with diabetes and Tomando Control de su Diabetes, DEA coordinates the outreach to elders with chronic disease, and HHS ensures chronic care patients' participation in all programs through its managed care initiative for adults with Medical Assistance. 

Results: As of August 2009 RI has 7 Master Trainers and 55 Leaders in LWRI with 20 Master Trainers and 37 Leaders for Tomando Control de su Diabetes. From January 2008 through May 2009, 19 classes were held with a total of 229 participants. 53% of participants were age 60+, 38% of participants had diabetes and 19% had heart disease.  

Conclusion: This partnership initiative to implement the Stanford Chronic Disease Management Program (CDMP) and establish a CDMP workforce provided many lessons on both challenges and successes of this experience.