Southeast Michigan Diabetes Outreach Network: quality improvement project for diabetes care.

This article describes the development and process measures with related outcomes of the Southeast Michigan Diabetes Outreach Network (SEMDON), one of six Diabetes Outreach Networks in Michigan. SEMDON's mission is to strengthen diabetes prevention, detection, and treatment. Education in diabetes management is provided to participating agencies. The agency staff collect baseline data on patients with diabetes including demographics and physiologic measures. Education is given to the patients by the staff nurses. The collection of information on several care process measures and intermediate outcomes is repeated at 6 months. A report of matched data of these agencies from 404 individuals with diabetes is presented. The outcomes of blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and annual foot and eye exams will be analyzed. The SEMDON model may be an effective approach in improving the quality of diabetes care.