CVMC Clinician Receives National Recognition

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September 21, 2010

Catawba Valley Medical Center Clinician Receives National Recognition for Providing Quality Diabetes Care

HICKORY, NC – The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently awarded Recognition to Dr. Elizabeth D. Restino of SE Catawba Family Practice for providing quality care to her patients with diabetes.

The Diabetes Recognition Program aims to improve the overall quality of care that patients with diabetes receive by recognizing clinicians who deliver quality diabetes care, and by motivating other clinicians to documents and improve their delivery of diabetes care. To receive recognition, which is valid for three years, Dr. Restino submitted data that demonstrates performance that meets the Program’s key diabetes care measures. These measures include eye exams, blood pressure tests, nutrition therapy and patient satisfaction, among others. When people with diabetes receive quality care as outlined by these measures, they are less likely to suffer complications such as heart attacks, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations.

“For a person with diabetes, the right clinician can make the difference between living withdiabetes as opposed to suffering from diabetes,” said Richard M. Bergenstal, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. “Clinicians who earn recognition through the Diabetes Recognition Program have an established track record of providing excellent diabetes care. The list of recognized clinicians is the first place to look if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes.”

To find out if your clinician has been recognized by the Diabetes Recognition Program or for further information, please visit http://www.ncqa.org/dprp or e-mail drp@ncqa.org. To order application materials, call 888/275-7585 or order online at http://www.ncqa.org/drppubs.

Diabetes is a serious condition that affects the body’s ability to produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone that allows blood sugar to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. An estimated 16 million Americans have diabetes; it is the sixth-leading cause of death by disease in the U.S. and it has no cure.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2010, NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA is committed to providing health care quality information for consumers, purchasers, health care providers and researchers.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the Association has offices in every region of the country, providing services to more than 800 communities.

Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., is the region’s largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system and serves the community without direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of the public in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness services, preventive medicine and acute care. CVMC has received three Magnet designations from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and has been recognized for providing “An Outstanding Inpatient Experience” for a fourth consecutive year by J.D. Power and Associates. For more information, please visit http://www.catawbavalleymedical.org.

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