use PRESENT Diabetes to collabo- rate in their efforts to limit compli type 2 diabetes, nutrition, wound. care healing, and strategies in pre …
Introducing PRESENT Diabetes
This innovative program takes diabetes education online
By Ellen R Delisio
I
magine being able to recreate the camaraderie, inspiration, expertise and electricity of a professional conference while sitting at your computer Or suppose you were a physician in a remote section of Eastern Europe who never was able to attend professional conferences, and wished you had access to the latest research and top experts to provide your diabetic patients with the best care possible In a few months, podiatrists and other healthcare professionals from around the globe will have the opportunity to learn, chat, and network about diabetes treatment and research without leaving their homes They all will be able to log into an online social network created by podiatrists who are determined to be the premier educational source for diabetes Called PRESENT The site is scheduled to launch January 1, 2007 Global Diabetes Educapharmacists, ophthalmologists, and tion, the site and all its features are wound care specialists They will scheduled to launch January 1, use PRESENT Diabetes to collabo2007 Developed from the work rate in their efforts to limit complidone by PRESENT
e-Learning Syscations, improve patient outcomes tems, which provides online curand ultimately provide a better riculum for podiatric residents, quality of life for diabetic patients PRESENT now is drawing worldThis is different because of the wide attention for its diabetes eduincorporation of community into cation effort The Web site, the education process When docwwwpresentdiabetescom, debuted tors attend seminars, they get as at the American Diabetes Associamuch out of talking with colleagues tion 66th Scientific Sessions in in the lobby as attending the lecJune
Reaching Practitioners Worldwide The goal of the PRESENT Diabetes organizers is to reach the worldwide multi-disciplinary teams that treat diabetics These include endocrinologists, internists and family medicine physicians, podiatrists, vascular specialists, nutritionists, pediatricians, physicians assistants, nurses, diabetes educators,
ture, according to Dr Alan Sherman, PRESENTs CEO Were trying to recreate that model, in and out of the lecture hall By using social networking, members can invite colleagues into their homes We dont want to reinvent the wheel, added Dr Michael Shore, director of business development,
strategic relationships of PRESENT Diabetes, and a founding member of PRESENT e-Learning Systems We know social networking and collaborations work well for kids–we think they will work even better for health care providers The PRESENT Diabetes team plans to spread the word about the site through peer-review journals, by going to medical associations and e-mailing announcements to registrants The founders chose to focus on diabetes because the number of cases in the US and abroad is growing at an alarming rate, and increasing numbers of podiatrists are becoming part of the care team for diabetic patients We were looking for a different specialty, something with more of a link to podiatry, and diabetes came on the table, said Dr Sherman, who also was the founder of Podiatry Online There are so many complications from diabetes involving the feet, he continued So many diabetics are hospitalized for foot
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problems, and podiatrists find themselves at the center of care for diabetics Diabetic patients always had choices as to where their foot problems were treated More and more are opting for
treatment by podiatrists Diabetes is an epidemic; Dr Shore added The only way to stop it is through education Maybe we can become part of the cure Streaming Video Lectures The initial content on PRESENT Diabetes will line up almost 100 multimedia streaming video lectures, and accompanying online discussions These include topics such as an overview of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, nutrition, wound care healing, and strategies in preventing diabetic amputations The lectures will undergo or have undergone peer review This is clearly the direction education is going; it wont replace face-to-face, but the standardization, convenience and efficiency of online learning makes it a logical step forward, said podiatrist Dr John Steinberg, one of the sites editors, and an assistant professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine Derek Leroith, MD, PhD, the former chief of diabetes for the National Institute of Health, who now is chief of the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Mt Sinai School of Medicine, serves as the sites editor-in-chief We have some of the greatest teachers, not just in podiatry, but in the field of diabetes in general, said Dr Sherman They all want
podiatrists to become a more important part of the diabetic care team Online Community Leaders Editors such as Dr Steinberg and Dr David Armstrong, professor of surgery and Associate Dean at Dr William M Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and Director of the Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research CLEAR at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, will serve as online
very apparent to me when I community leaders They also will walked into the 66th Annual ADA oversee content, design curriculum exhibit floor in Washington, DC in their topic area, assign lecture in June I must say, that over the topics to authors of their choice, last two months, I was able to get and edit and write periodic e-mail to know many of the national e-zines to send to members, as and international leaders with the well as moderate discussion forums help of our editors and advisory in their areas board members I long have been a supporter of PRESENT since its precursor, PodiaUp-To-Date try Online, Research noted Dr ArmThe main instrong, in exgredient for enplaining why he The initial content on couraging global became involved
PRESENT Diabetes participation is I believe the prothe up-to-date regram has matured will line up almost search and educainto something 100 multimedia tional content that has the poPRESENT Diatential to change streaming video betes offers, acthe profession cording to Cynlectures, and thia A Fleck, PREChallenges accompanying SENT Diabetes Among the nursing editor challenges of discussions on and vice presistarting a site like dent, clinical PRESENT Diabetes PRESENT Diabetes marketing, for were enlisting the Medline Induskey leaders in the tries areas of diabetes This will ensure that current education and treatment, and getscientific leadership reaches the ting to know the players in the diahundreds of thousands of physibetes field, Drs Sherman and Shore cians, nurses and care givers who said treat diabetic patients worldwide, The biggest challenge was reshe said cruiting the level of talent that we Recent research and innovaneededthe world leaders in diation have enabled us to improve betes management, said Dr Sheroutcomes and prevent many ampuman Once we got them to undertations in the diabetic foot Our stand our track record, what weve greatest challenge now is properly already
accomplished in podiatry, disseminating this new information they all agreed in a manner that empowers all to join our practitioners to benefit from the evteam All diaidence-based practices, Dr Steinbetes experts berg noted on the PRESENT Web know podiatry site PRESENT Diabetes is a huge today and the step in that direction vital role that it The founders have sought out plays in the dinot only podiatrists for content, adabetes care vice and participation, but also team We also healthcare providers and educators had to make Dr Sherman from a wide spectrum of disciplines them underwho are involved with diabetes stand what makes PRESENT DiaWe want to empower diabetic care betes different from other online professionals to be smarter and education site 
sthat being the ontreat patients better, Dr Sherman line collaboration features and the said ability to simulate the live clinical conference experience International Component Dr Shore added, For me, the The international component biggest challenge was getting to is developing; this will truly be an know the industry leaders in global diabetes education This was Continued on page 221
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international forum, added Dr Steinberg Corporate acceptance from pharmaceutical and device manufacturers also has been very high Dr Armstrong agreed I think the difference here [between PRESENT and other online learning venues] is the content, he said Many of the speakers are renowned in their area of content This allows people around the country–and more importantly– around the world who might not normally have a chance to interact with top clinician-scientists, a substantial opportunity It becomes a great equalizer for information The ability to educate and interact with so many practitioners also helped entice Dr Steinberg to join the site It interested me as a chance to educate large numbers of people at various levels of medicine with minimal efforts, Dr Steinberg said We put together an incredible advisory board–the diversity is excellent, the content is very strong, clinically relevant, and we hope it will change the way some people practice by engaging in the proper protocol for foot treatment Clinicians of all stripes from around the world have responded with significant enthusiasm, according to Dr Armstrong Its great fun to watch this
grow Networking The numerous ways all these healthcare professionals can network on the site is the most exciting aspect of PRESENT Diabetes, according to Drs Sherman and Shore Visitors to the site can attend lectures online, view pod casts, participate in Web chats, message boards, blogs, public and private e-mail chats, instant messaging, and join in online consultations and forums People leave [professional development] lectures all excited but often dont get that engaged again until the next conference, according to Dr Sherman Were trying to lower the barriers so we can simulate the experience all year long With PRESENT Diabetes, the momentum doesnt die down If someone starts a discussion in a forum, the discussion can continwwwpodiatrymcom
ue until it is finished Besides all those features, the PRESENT Diabetes team also will create a publishing model for the global diabetes community Key opinion leaders will publish ezines to the sites members, to inform and engage them, draw them to selected content, take surveys, and encourage their participation in the community, added Ms Fleck Similar to other online social networking sites like MySpacecom, members will register and
create a page with their resume and lists their fields of expertise and interests, so they can network on particular topics International Forum Our target outside and inside the US is not only podiatrists, ac-
The international component is developing; this will truly be an international forum –Steinberg
edge of diabetes, collaborate with other medical specialists, and help make other practitioners aware of their skills and the vital roles they play in treating diabetics This is putting podiatry front and center on the diabetes front, said Dr Shore Well have a new online educaDr Shore tion program, designed to make diabetes care easier by providing outstanding curriculum Our goals are to see podiatrists become more important in the role of diabetes care and help diabetics lead healthier lives When the world sees the level of education American podiatrists are putting out there, it will show off the quality of research were doing and change ideas Podiatrists Standing Efforts such as PRESENT Diabetes do also help to improve podiatrists standing in the community Diabetes has helped elevate podiatry to new areas of academics and research medicine, added Dr Steinberg Podiatrists, in
fact, are among the practitioners who most often diagnose diabetes, he continued Podiatrists are well-positioned for the treatment of diabetics; they often are called on for foot problems and neuropathy Often, patients will come to us first with foot problems before they know they have diabetes; they may have a foot wound or infection, and that will be the first sign of diabetes We are part of the interdisciplinary approach The diabetic foot has a lot to do with the overall health of the patient; we have become integral to the team approach, according to Dr Shore Dr Armstrong agreed I think that the podiatrists role has become rather firmly established amongst the majority of leaders in diabetes, worldwide, noted Dr Armstrong Unfortunately, podiatry in its US form doesnt exist in
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cording to Dr Sherman Its all medical specialists who provide diabetic care One of the ways Dr Sherman said he envisions PRESENT Diabetes being employed would be to develop international forums For example, if a resident in India is doing research on insulin receptors and wants to put together a panel to discuss a particular medicine, he could invite PRESENT Diabetes members to
participate in what PRESENT Diabetes calls an online focus group As Dr Shore said, another possible scenario would involve an online discussion among practitioners who want to compare wound-care products; they would be able to get input from industry members Several of the participants noted that PRESENT Diabetes is an opportunity for podiatrists not only to learn, but also to share their knowl-
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the rest of the world I think we need to continue to work toward development of worldwide parity of foot and ankle specialists I believe that PRESENT is a hugely important vehicle in this effort Team Collaboration The chance for nurses, who like podiatrists are becoming more involved in wound care, to collaborate with podiatrists is important so both groups learn about their roles and can better work together For me, the most exciting aspect of PRESENT Diabetes is the ability for collaboration between podiatrists and nurses, as well as the entire diabetes management team, said Ms Fleck PRESENT Diabetes also supports the concept that a multidisciplinary approach works best in treating diabetes Obviously, it takes more than a single
specialist to care for these patients, Dr Steinberg noted This
will serve as a forum to help the various members of the diabetes care team network This educational process embraces the entire diabetes care team The transprofessional–a
PRESENT Diabetes also supports the concept that a multidisciplinary approach works best in treating diabetes
term coined by two of my mentors, Dr Elizabeth Ayello, PhD, RN and Dr Gary Sibbald, MD–approach to the care of diabetes mellitus and its complications, such as diabetic/neuropathic ulcers, has been proven to provide the best
outcomes and overall patient satisfaction, Ms Fleck said Adds PRESENT Editor Derek LeRoith, MD, Since there is no cure on the horizon for diabetes, the best way to battle this illness, the only way, is by providing the most up-to-date education and research to the front line of all physicians and diabetes educators who interact with patients suffering from the complications of this devastating illness The PRESENT Diabetes team has high hopes of becoming a crucial conduit for getting the most current research and treatment data available to as many people as possible We know hundreds of thousands of people treat
diabetes and its hard to get information out to them, Dr Shore said Now the world will be able to see it online
Ellen R Delisio is the news editor for Education World, a Web site for K-12 educators, and a freelance writer She lives in Middletown, CT
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