• Can be used by people and programs at all levels of a diverse organization.
• Is based on data and evidence.
• Can be locally adapted.
• Is recognized by a group of experts as a standard of excellence.

• Documented.
• Updated.
• Clearly communicated throughout the health care organization.
• Implemented as part of a planned approach to improving services.

• Update the existing 14 best practices and develop four new best practices.
• Improve and standardize the format of the best practices.
• Determine how chronic care could be applied to applicable best practice models.
  

1. Adult weight management*
2. Breastfeeding*
3. Cardiovascular disease
4. Case management*
5. Community advocacy
6. Community screening
7. Depression care*
8. Diabetes and pregnancy
9. Diabetes self-care education
10. Diabetes systems of care
11. Eye care
12. Foot care
13. Kidney care
14. Nutrition and physical activity
15. Oral health
16. Pharmaceutical care
17. School health
18. Youth and type 2 diabetes

• Have been updated with the latest scientific evidence in a new format.
• Incorporate elements of the Chronic Care Model+, including a discussion of how the entire health care organization must be involved. The model’s elements include:

- Community resources and policies.
- Health care organization leadership.
- Patient self-management support.
- Delivery system design, including services, programs, systems, and procedures.
- Decision support, including information and training for providers.
- Clinical information systems, including collecting and tracking information.

• Provide information on:

- Evaluating and sustaining your program.
- Contacting others for help.
- Real-world examples of diabetes programs.

• Have led to improvements in diabetes clinical care as measured by the diabetes audit.
• Can potentially help reduce diabetes health care disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.

• Understand the diabetes prevention, treatment, and education activities have been shown to be effective.
• Learn from the experiences of others.
• Identify strengths and gaps in local diabetes services and resources.
• Determine the best practice models which can be practically implemented in your community.
• Establish program priorities.
• Get an effective program up and running.
• Begin a work plan to develop your own local best practice models.
• Implement best practices that have been shown to result in outstanding and measurable improvement.

• On the IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention website. The website offers tips on:
• Monitoring and evaluating your program.
• Conducting community needs assessments.
• In the long versions of most of the best practices, you will find descriptions of and contact information for programs that have implemented the recommended best practice.
• If you have questions about the best practices, please contact the IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention via email: diabetesprogram@mail.ihs.gov.