Pharmacy involvement in a multidisciplinary diabetic teaching program

The following article describes a method of developing a workable diabetic teaching program within a hospital setting. Emphasis is placed on involving other health professionals with expertise in their respective areas. Development of behavioral and learning objectives along with learning activities and methods of evaluation are discussed. The purposes of this program are: 1) to reduce the overlap in educational instructions given to patients with diabetes, and 2) to remove the problem of an unorganized patient education effort by placing such patients into a structured learning situation in which they feel comfortable and which is conducive to learning. This program has proved successful and provides a viable means of involving staff pharmacists with patients. It has taken a minimal amount of time and did not necessitate an increase in our staff.