DIABETES CARE NEEDS OF HISPANIC PATIENTS TREATED AT INNER-CITY NEIGHBORHOOD CLINICS IN NEW-YORK-CITY

The charts of 254 Hispanic patients were selected from a sample of 321 patients with diabetes in four urban clinics that received federal fu nding to provide medical care in underserved communities. A standardiz ed chart-audit protocol was used to assess the process of healthcare d elivery and the presence of diabetes-associated comorbidities and comp lications in patients. Inconsistent recognition of obesity (11% identi fied vs 59% present), hyperlipidemia (17% identified vs 69% present), and renal dysfunction (3.5% identified vs 16% present) was evident on chart review. We also found inadequate compliance with current recomme ndations for diabetes care with respect to routine health screenings f or diabetes-related complications, recognition of comorbid diagnoses, and referral of patients for recommended specialty consultations. Issu es specific to the varied Hispanic populations may need to be consider ed to improve the delivery of diabetes care for the growing Hispanic p opulation with diabetes.