Tools, technologies, and informatics: supporting glycemic control

To overcome the challenges involved in the adoption and implementation of standards of glycemic control in the inpatient setting.

Three major barriers to effective glycemic control are examined, and solutions are discussed.

The diabetes care process occurs at several levels of the hospital system, including the community level. Each level must be considered when solutions for glycemic control are determined and implementation planned. Workflow coordination is another challenge; it addresses the end users who provide patient care and use information support. Informatics, or the application of information technology to healthcare, can facilitate system-level and workflow integration efforts to improve glycemic control.

Glycemic control can be achieved through coordinated and facilitated efforts at each level of the hospital system--individual, unit, and hospital-wide. Multidisciplinary team coordination, workflow integration, effective information sharing, and communication are required.