The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is a federally recognized tribe located in rural northeast Kansas with over 5,000 enrolled tribal members. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has an established Health Department, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Health Clinic (PBPHC), located on the Reservation that offers primary medical care and preventive health care services to Native Americans and the surrounding community. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) participants predominately reside in rural areas and small communities which are food deserts. These communities are also limited on transportation resources and have limited to nonexistent access to public transportation.
SDPI funding allows the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation to provide fun and detailed diabetes education services and host prevention programs to Native Americans all over Kansas who receive medical care from our health clinic. A diabetes care and education specialist provides services, facilitates care, and ensures all the diabetes care and education services provided by Prairie Band Potawatomi Health Clinic are culturally competent and relevant.
The registered dietitian/program is a Cherokee Nation citizen and has over 13 years professional experience providing diabetes services to Oklahoma and Kansas Native Americans. The Diabetes Nurse educator has 40 plus years of professional experience. Having a robust experienced team allows for a unique perspective and allows us to make our patients the center of our practice. Our health clinic administer is actively involved with the SDPI program reporting and reports directly to Tribal Leadership. SDPI key personnel include a program manager, diabetes care and education specialist, and lifestyle coach. This team of individuals has been working together for the last three years, increasing the continuity and consistency of patient care.
To ensure accuracy of our data and reporting, the Annual Diabetes Care and Audit Outcome results contain the entirety of the clinic’s active diabetes registry rather than a calculated percentage. Additional registries including retinopathy, high risk feet, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and dental are maintained and updated. The 2022 diabetes audit was conducted on 376 patients from our diabetes registry. Elements selected to be improved in 2023 are based on the data collected during the 2022 audit: A1c <8.0%, depression screening, and Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS). Diabetes Education will be selected as the Best Practice for 2023. Measurement Data is updated regularly and entered mid-year and at the end of the reporting period. The target group consists of 48 individuals on the diabetes registry who now receive primary care at the Perkins Family Clinic. Persons with a diagnosis are educated on safe and appropriate diabetes self-management. These persons will also be given Continuous Glucose Monitor and will be watched closely for one year or until blood sugar is controlled.
Additional areas of focus will include dental exams, home blood pressure monitoring/education, influenza and COVID-19 vaccination and education. Community walking events, health fairs, and events with Native youth and elders will be focusing on health promotion and disease prevention. All targeted activities will monitor outcomes utilizing evaluation data to ensure effectiveness and promote program improvements.