Quality of diabetes care in community health centers

Objectives. This study assessed the duality of diabetes care in community h ealth centers. Methods. In 55 midwestern community health centers, we reviewed the charts of 2865 diabetic adults for American Diabetes Association measures of quali ty. Results. On average, 70% of the patients in each community health center ha d measurements of glycosylated hemoglobin, 26% had dilated eye examinations , 66% had diet intervention, and 51% received foot care. The average glycos ylated hemoglobin value per community health center was 8.6%. Practice guid elines were independently associated with higher quality of care. Conclusions. Rates of adherence to process measures of quality were relativ ely low among community health centers, compared with the targets establish ed by the American Diabetes Association.