FOR RELEASE (PHOTO ATTACHED):
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.