The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) have announced that nine physicians with Sound Family Medicine, Eastern Pierce County’s largest private medical group, have received recognition from the Diabetes Physician Recognition Program for providing quality care to their patients with diabetes. Those physicians are: Edward Pullen, MD; Marc Aversa, MD; Darin Blackburn, MD; Tammy D'Souza, DO; Nancy Grubb, MD; Jennifer Knowles, MD; Donald Sinden, DO; Kevin Taggart, MD; and Christopher Young, MD.

“I am exceptionally proud to have nearly all of our providers as NCQA recognized for our diabetes care,” Dr. Pullen, SFM Medical Director, said. “We are the only large group in Pierce County to have this recognition, and one of the first groups in Washington. It says a lot about the commitment of our doctors, and support of our whole staff to accomplish this.”

The Diabetes Physician Recognition Program (DPRP) was designed to improve the quality of care that patients with diabetes receive by recognizing physicians who deliver quality diabetes care, and by motivating other physicians to document and improve their delivery of diabetes care. To receive recognition, which is valid for three years, the clinic submitted data that demonstrates performance that meets the program’s key diabetes care measures, including eye exams, blood pressure tests, nutrition therapy and patient satisfaction. When people with diabetes receive quality care as outlined by these measures, they are less likely to suffer complications.

“Diabetes is one disease for which preventive care and good disease management has conclusively been shown to result fewer complications, fewer hospitalizations, and reduced health care costs for the patient,” Dr. Pullen notes. “If you have diabetes, you are saving not only the cost of medical care, but the pain and anguish of medical procedures and conditions that include serious vision problems, dialysis, heart attacks, infections and even amputations.”

“For a person with diabetes, the right physician can make the difference between living with diabetes as opposed to suffering from diabetes,” says Larry C. Deeb, MD, President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association. “Physicians who earn recognition through the Diabetes Physician Recognition Program have an established track record of providing excellent diabetes care. The list of (DPRP) recognized doctors is the first place to look if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes.”

There are five major areas of diabetes care that can reduce complication rates, and which are the focus of Sound Family Medicine’s health care providers. “For many patients, surprisingly, control of blood sugars may not be the most important,” Dr. Aversa points out. What is important?

1. Blood pressure control. A person with diabetes needs to maintain lower pressure than those without. What is considered upper normal blood pressure for most of us can, for a diabetic, lead to complications, including kidney failure and dialysis, heart attacks, and disease of the arteries to the legs and feet. The official goal blood pressure for a diabetic is less than 130/80.
2. Cholesterol control. For SFM patients with diabetes, the doctors work aggressively to lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol, which reduces the risks of heart and artery disease. The LDL goal in diabetics is less than 70. A statin type medication is very often needed to achieve this.
3. Blood sugar control. Blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes can be very challenging. Weight loss, diet, and exercise are key. In addition, oral medications and, at times, insulin are needed.
4. Eliminating tobacco use. If a diabetic smokes, the risk of heart attack, peripheral artery disease leading to leg ulcers, infection, and amputation are greatly increased. Quitting smoking is critical for people with diabetes.
5. Monitoring for and management of complications. Getting annual professional dilated eye exams to look for early diabetic eye disease at a time when treatment can prevent progression to blindness is important. Annual urine tests should be done to look for protein leakage, a sign of early diabetic kidney injury.

The most important thing for patients to remember is to schedule regular office visits. Every three months is the standard of care set by most experts. To find out if your physician has been recognized by the Diabetes Physician Recognition Program, or for further information, please visit www.ncga.org/dprp or call 202-955-1721.

About Diabetes:
Diabetes is a serious disease 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 United States and it has no cure.

About the National Committee for Quality Assurance:
NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations and recognizes physicians in key clinical areas.

About the American Diabetes Association:
The ADA 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.