ADVICE

ADVICE logo The Arizona Diabetes Virtual Center of Excellence (ADVICE) is a comprehensive program for diabetes prevention, assessment, and management utilizing the Arizona Telemedicine Program Network.

Early ADVICE Programs

From 2004-2006 ADVICE was partially supported by the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT), Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

GOAL 1

Create the “Arizona Diabetes Virtual Center of Excellence” (ADVICE) network to establish a comprehensive telemedicine program for diabetes prevention, assessment, and management.

Objective 1: Connect three rural communities, Nogales, Tuba City, and Amado to diabetes clinical providers and education specialists in year 1 to establish a Diabetes Virtual Center of Excellence Telehealth Network.

Objective 2: Assemble an ADVICE Advisory Committee.

ADVICE Roundtable

A statewide diabetes virtual roundtable serves as the ADVICE Advisory Commitee.

GOAL 2

Create and evaluate innovative distance learning programs on diabetes for patients, families, children, community-based allied health professionals, and physicians in rural areas, thereby creating a community-based infrastructure for diabetes health education.

Objective 3: Develop, provide and evaluate annual community health center-based telehealth diabetes learning activities for K-12 student groups and their families that are age-appropriate and culturally sensitive.

ADVICE Kids

ADVICE "tele-kids" programs provide diabetes classes to Nogales, AZ children.

ADVICE diabetes tele-play

Tucson area Girl Scouts teach Nogales students how to perform a diabetes play

Objective 4: Increase 10 Health Professional Students’ (i.e., medical, nursing, dietitian, public health) telehealth experience through opportunities to practice with telehealth preceptors.

Nursing Students receiving tele-diabetes training

College of Nursing students receiving tele-diabetes training

Objective 5: Develop and provide Promotora/Community Health Representatives (CHR) with bi-directional videoconference training on diabetes self-management skills, support group telehealth facilitation and technology skills development with in-home health devices, such as tele-home units, computers, and digital cameras.

Promotora (right) assists patient during tele-nutrition session

Promotora (right) assists a patient during a diabetes tele-nutrition consultation.

Objective 6: Provide 4 Spanish and 3 English diabetes patient seminars (7 weekly class series) via videoconferencing to Nogales, Amado and Tuba City sites.

Amado, AZ patients attend tele-diabetes classes

Objective 7: Sponsor quarterly teleconferenced Diabetes Grand Rounds for ADVICE physicians, mid-level providers and allied health professionals.
Diabetes Grand Rounds on Diabetic Foot Care

Diabetes Grand Rounds on Diabetic Foot Care

Objective 8: Provide monthly distance learning classes for a two-year core curriculum cycle on “Becoming A Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE).”

Students at remote sites receive CDE training

Objective 9: Hold bi-monthly multidisciplinary team teleconferences between Nogales, Tuba City and specialty providers.

Mutidisciplinary team teleconference between Mariposa CHC and Tucson

Mutidisciplinary team teleconference between Tucson and Nogales

Objective 10: Disseminate news and “lessons learned” to participating communities, health professionals, and the general public.

GOAL 3

Provide access to specialty health care for people with diabetes and pre-diabetes in rural areas.

Objective 11: Provide access to diabetes/pediatric endocrinology teleconsultations to children of Nogales and Tuba City as an extension of currently available adult services.

Objective 12: Provide access to diabetes/ophthalmology teleconsultations for residents of Nogales with diabetes.

Tele-ophthalmology training in Nogales

Objective 13: Provide access to diabetes nutrition teleconsultations with a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) for residents of Nogales, Tuba City and Amado with diabetes.

Registered Dietitian/CDE conducts a tele-nutritiion consulation