What Can Diabetes Quality Teams Learn from Engineers and Designers?
Saturday, June 24, at 3:15 p.m. PT
Room 31
San Diego Convention Center
Osagie Ebekozien, MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer,
T1D Exchange
What is your presentation about?
This presentation will share real-world data on the current state of diabetes outcomes, the challenges to achieving optimal outcomes, and the need for sustainable improvement solutions. Thereafter, we will discuss frameworks, examples, and insights to showcase how quality improvement teams can emulate engineers and design thinking experts to speed up process improvement.
What makes this topic important in 2023?
The diabetes field is improving, but arguably not at the same rate compared to many other industries, like high-speed trains, electronic communication, artificial intelligence, and many other sectors. This session will share insights and lessons from engineers that can be incorporated into everyday diabetes practice and research improvement, which can rapidly transform diabetes outcomes in 2023.
How did you become involved with this area of diabetes research or care?
My dad and brother are engineers, so design thinking runs in my family. I grew up learning from my dad the significance of continuous improvement and design thinking in everyday life experiences like flying a plane, designing mobile phones, or drilling oil from the bottom of the ocean. For the past 15 years, I have been translating engineering improvement and design insights into diabetes care. I do this every day in my role as the Chief Medical Officer of T1D Exchange, where I direct our learning health network of 54 type 1 diabetes and five type 2 diabetes centers in the U.S.
How do you think your presentation will impact diabetes research or care?
My session will share practical insights on everyday improvement tools, models, and frameworks that listeners can apply to optimize diabetes research. I will share real-world examples of how engineering tools can address health inequities in diabetes outcomes.
What are you most looking forward to at the 83rd Scientific Sessions?
Reconnecting with friends and faculty from the T1D Exchange QI Collaborative network. Enjoying the beautiful weather in San Diego and, of course, learning from insightful presentations.
Schafer C. Boeder, MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine,
University of California, San Diego
What is your presentation about?
This will be an interactive panel discussion that will examine ways to build more effective and efficient diabetes care teams using intentional approaches such as structured quality improvement. Relevant areas of practice include outpatient clinics, inpatient/hospital-based care, diabetes education, and public health. Discussion topics will include improving access, equity and inclusion in diabetes care and research, engaging stakeholders (including patients and caregivers), and available resources for those building or improving diabetes quality teams.
What makes this topic important in 2023?
Despite ever improving tools (e.g., medications, technologies), many people with diabetes do not achieve their care goals, and there is broad inequity in the access to care and clinical outcomes. An intentional approach to improving diabetes quality is needed.
How did you become involved with this area of diabetes research or care?
My interest in this area stems from my work on the UC San Diego inpatient glycemic control team, where we utilize quality improvement to drive clinical practice, and my involvement with Taking Control of Your Diabetes (TCOYD), a nonprofit focused on diabetes education and empowerment.
How do you think your presentation will impact diabetes research or care?
I hope this discussion will inspire diabetes providers and educators to start or redouble their efforts at diabetes quality in a structured, intentional approach.
What are you most looking forward to at the 83rd Scientific Sessions?
Welcoming the diabetes community back to America’s Finest City, San Diego!