The Regional Diabetes Collaborative Convened Its Ninth Annual Diabetes Forum

The Future of Diabetes Care: Innovative Changes in Health Care Delivery Systems was the topic of discussion for about 70 physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties at the Ninth Annual Diabetes Forum, hosted by the Regional Diabetes Collaborative (RDC) and the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust (Health Trust) on Friday, March 23rd from 8:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at the Health Trust, 85 Nielson Street, Watsonville. 

Stakeholders at this meeting convened at the invitation of the Health Trust and the RDC to hear from national experts on the Affordable Care Act; Reforming the National System for Health; and Promising Policies for Improving Diabetes Public Health.

The Keynote speaker was Kim Belshé, Senior Policy Advisor of the Public Institute of California (PPIC). As senior policy advisor of the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), Kim Belshé serves as a resource to leadership and staff as well as the broader policy community on health and social services, fiscal, governance and related reforms. In her various leadership positions, she has led efforts to improve the health and well-being of the people of California, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities. She currently serves on the board of the state’s new Health Benefit Exchange, a centerpiece of federal health reform which will create a new market place for consumers and small businesses to shop for health insurance.  

Ms. Belshé’s presentation focused on understanding the framework of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Participants learned about the changes to our health care delivery systems and financing mechanisms. She also focused on the Medicaid "Bridge to Reform" 1115 waiver and current opportunities to expand coverage for low-wage workers.

Complementing her key note speech was Paul Tang, MD, MS, Vice President and Chief Innovation Technology Officer for Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF).  Dr. Tang is a Consulting Associate Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. He directs the David Druker Center for Health Systems Innovation and also oversees PAMF's electronic health record (EHR) system and its integrated personal health record (PHR) system, MyHealthOnline (formerly PAMFOnline). Dr. Tang described the necessity for reforming the health system. He also addressed the health information technology incentive program framework. Most importantly his talk addressed how personalizing health can activate patients and how online disease management can empower patients with diabetes.

Denise Gonzalez, MD, Senior Clinical Program Associate of the California Health Care Safety Net Institute wrapped up our Diabetes Forum as the last speaker. Dr. Gonzalez has a decade of experience in primary care improvement work that spans from access and operational efficiency to chronic disease and population health management. She focused her presentation on identifying innovative practices to ensure equal access and optimal health for patients and helped participants recognize initiatives that enhance efficiency and improve the quality of health care for patients with diabetes.

For more information about this event, contact Raquel Ramírez Ruiz, Regional Diabetes Collaborative (RDC) staff at (831)763-6445.

The RDC is a membership organization of three dozen public and private entities from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties. This Tri-County collaborative was convened by the Health Trust in 2002 to combat the incidence of diabetes in our region, which is one of the highest in the State:  seven percent of Tri-County residents (55,000 people) now have Type 2 diabetes.  Since 1990, the number has grown by a third.  Public Health officials project a doubling before 2020.

Beyond the physical impact on patients, the cost of diabetes is staggering.  The national cost of diabetes and its complications exceeds $130 billion a year, and that’s rising at least 10% a year. For the Tri-County area it’s close to a half billion.

About the Regional Diabetes Collaborative (RDC)

The RDC is administered by the Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust that, since 2002, has united some 35 member-organizations to prevent and manage diabetes in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties. The RDC’s activities include creating partnerships with private, public, governmental and community-based organizations to prevent diabetes in the region; increasing public awareness and diabetes education; promoting best practices in clinical management; and improving the availability, accessibility, and affordability of treatment services, medicines, and equipment for diabetes patients.