SPOTLIGHT	< BACK
VA Found To Lead In Diabetes Care

"This study serves as an outstanding example of how VA is delivering excellent care to its patients. Our many health care professionals consistently provide evidence-based care supported nationally by an electronic health record and clinical reminders. While we are thrilled to set benchmarks, we are more thrilled by the better outcomes for our patients." - Jonathan Perlin, MD Acting Under Secretary for Health Department of Veterans Affairs

Diabetes care in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system is better than that of managed care plans, a new study has concluded. Reporting in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that diabetics treated at VA medical centers had better control over their cholesterol and received more frequent blood tests and eye and foot exams. The study was funded by VA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Researchers compared the care of 6,900 diabetic patients in eight managed care plans with that received by 1,300 diabetics at five VA medical centers. Patients in VA received the recommended annual blood tests 93 percent of the time, compared to 83 percent under the managed care plans. VA also outperformed its managed care counterparts in providing eye exams, 91 to 75 percent; foot exams, 98 to 84 percent; and cholesterol testing, 79 to 63 percent.