FORUM 3 - CHANGES IN THE US HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM THAT WOULD FACILITATE IMPROVED CARE FOR NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

At the conclusion of the conference detailed in this supplement, confe rence attendees participated in one of three fora to discuss an assign ed topic and incorporate conference presentations into the discussion. Forum Three, the results of which are reported here, addressed the ch allenging question of what changes in the U.S. health care system woul d facilitate improved care for patients with non-insulin-dependent dia betes mellitus (NIDDM). Using the nominal group process-a discussion t echnique designed to obtain a rank-ordered list of responses to the ch allenge question from a group of informed persons-forum Three made the following priority recommendations: 1) Establish universal access to the comprehensive preventive services necessary to optimally manage th e estimated 16 million Americans with NIDDM; 2) create a system of co- management between primary and specialty care services; and 3) modify the current health care system to include a program for increased pati ent and public awareness of the seriousness of NIDDM, special training for primary care residents and practicing physicians in this area, de velopment of standards of care, creation of a central coordinating age ncy for all aspects of diabetes care, and development of outcome-based goals for patients and providers.