RMG’s Simi Valley Diabetes Clinic offers free diabetes care for members

Regal Medical Group (RMG) today announced its Simi Valley Diabetes Clinic, offering free diabetes care for members, has helped more than 200 patients receive comprehensive, individualized, successful treatment.

The free clinic has helped almost 200 diabetic patients in the community receive personalized care and support in the treatment and management of their diabetes – achieving a 90 percent success rate, based on early discharge from the program and keeping diabetic patients out of the hospital. Open twice a week by appointment to all RMG members, patients are scheduled based on referrals. The clinic has been in operation since July 2014.

A patient's first visit typically includes:

• Medication reconciliation. An in-house pharmacist, Grace Cheng, Pharm.D, gathers information from the patient, performs reconciliation, and reviews with doctors to ensure patients are taking appropriate medication for specific, individualized conditions.
• Physician meeting. Patients meet with the clinic's in house diabetes doctor, Danielle Basurco, MD. Together, they create a comprehensive care plan that includes medication instructions, follow up visits, information and take home tools to keep track of their daily blood glucose and food journals.
• Health educator and dietician conversation. The on-site health educator, Nora Hayes, and certified diabetic educator (CDE), provided by Novo Nordisk or Sanofi, meets with the patients, registering them for free diabetes and weight management classes offered at the clinic. The CDE also gives patients information about food, diet, and exercise.

"By having constant contact with the patients and spending quality time with them, we are really able to help make a marked difference in their disease," said Dr. Basurco. "Many of the patients we see are insulin-dependent and high risk, so it's important to help get their diabetes under control. We add an additional level to the treatment they are getting from their regular doctor."

"I'm very pleased with the positive results achieved between patients and care givers at the Simi Valley Diabetes Clinic," said Dr. Richard Merkin, President and CEO of Regal Medical Group, part of the Heritage Provider Network family. "This fits with our overall goal of providing quality, cost effective healthcare for all our members."

The programs' success rate has led to a number of patients already discharged as a direct result of their improved health. Once they enroll in the program, and learn to grasp a better understanding of how their condition affects their overall health, they typically achieve greater wellness, ensuring an enhanced self-image and increased improved results.

"Once they start doing better and have a greater understanding of their total condition, we will have them in less frequently," said Anita Zimmerman, senior office manager of RMG. "Having all of the outside resources that the clinic offers provides additional tools to patients – allowing them to take control of their own health."