Diabetes mortality and complications in elderly Maryland women

Mortality Diabetes Program

Though the number of people with diabetes is rising to epidemic proportions across the nation. It is interesting to note that there is little evidence that the elderly women in Maryland are faced with similar mortality rates to any other group. In fact the number of serious complications reported lack sufficient evidence that this age group has the same rate as other populations. A program to investigate the actual population of elderly women in Maryland with diabetes is being designed to determine the actual data on mortality and the number of older adults that face complications due to illness. This research study, (Health Program Study of Elderly Women with Diabetes), is being developed using data from medical records that indicate serious illnesses that are tied to a diabetic condition. This data will target those subjects diagnosed with diabetes to monitor their lifestyle and mortality expectancy compared with results from other states. The purpose is to learn if there is a higher, lower or comparable expectancy to the Maryland elderly women populations.

Introduction

In understanding the diabetic condition of the elderly women population in Maryland, the following resources will be used. Medical information for members of the elderly women community that report diabetic related illnesses and conditions will be examined. This will assist in finding the number of women that face diabetes who have or have not been diagnosed. Major complications associated with a diabetic condition include blindness, amputation of extremities, cases of stroke, heart disease, and other disorders will help to identify those faced with diabetes. The Medicare records for female citizens over 65 that reported a diabetic claim, that receive benefits of a or B. who were still alive after 2005 will be reviewed. The number of persons who expired with issues related to diabetes can then be deduced to find out what the numbers are compared to other states. This information will be logged and reported to Medicaid, and other agencies such as the Maryland's Women's Health Organization. The length of the study will be approximately two years from the date that the target population was identified at which time records of those that have expired will be reviewed to determine cause of death. It is expected that the numbers will be the comparable in Maryland as those reported for elderly women populations in other areas of the country.

A Health Program Study of Elderly Women with Diabetes is aimed to increase awareness of the symptoms of the condition to women age 65 and over. The hope is to educate

The Women in Maryland from all backgrounds in the public sector, educators, those that have policy making authority, and health care practitioners. The study of health configurations or epidemiology of this program is designed to examine the lifestyle factors that are adopted by the elderly women to manage their healthcare. It is hoped that such a study will reveal any differences of managed care that are present within the Maryland hospitals and clinics that may extend or improve the quality of life for female diabetes patients. The program is designed to capture the process of caring for the elderly women in Maryland populations. Along with recording the mortality of those diagnosed with the illness. The tools to be used include Medicare and all medical insurance records such as Healthcare Managed Organizations, those facing relative hazard status, and use of the standardized mortality ratio to measure a diabetic patient's life expectancy. This information can be used by insurance companies, senior social programs, and government agencies to establish educational services and benefit levels and other factors in paying for and caring for all senior female Maryland residents facing diabetics.

Health Disparities

The plan is to take advantage of provisions within the new Health Care reform bill that deal directly to health disparities. They are designed to focus on better data collection in regards to women over age 65 and over in terms of distinct populations such as race, ethnic background, and language (Kaiser Fdn, 2010). The Health Care Bill also has provisions directed to address cultural training for medical practitioners within these populations for ensuring the right prognosis is being diagnosed. It is also a proponent of adequate medical coverage being provided to those without it up to this time. The program is also designed to help those female populations that have received the least assistance in terms of Medicaid coverage and ensuring they are enrolled to get the care needed.

This Program will create opportunity through raising awareness so that those in Maryland can take advantage of funding that has been provided.

The disparities surrounding the disconnect of Prevention mechanisms between People of other races that generally "experience higher rates of many chronic conditions, as well as higher death rates from many of these conditions compared to whites" according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (Kaiser Fdn, 2010). It is also realized that costs of caring for those with the disease is high. Once the numbers come in through the Program study to determine the number of mortalities faced by senior women over 65, there are provisions within the Health Care Reform Bill to provide funding to expand preventative programs to minority sectors. Some of the funding is to come from a national prevention trust fund (Kaiser Fdn, 2010). However there are additional funding resources for the near-term that are readily assessable.

Social Justice

The National Secretary of Health has been called on to launch a national quality plan designed to address the issue of social injustice and improve the level of service to every state. Specific to this program are the rates for Maryland in tracking the mortality rates of all with diabetes. Including the elderly women and minority women with the specific indicators to track and monitor being race and gender. This will go along way in finally getting a better idea of what the numbers in Maryland for diabetes mortality.

Understanding that elderly women and older minority women in particular are retired and have little income or are unemployed (Mitchell et al., 1994). Therefore their income is even lower than their non-Hispanic whites. The new social program of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is designed to aid those in this demographic (Kaiser Fdn, 2010). Since minority elderly women tend to rely on government and social program for their health care, the additional provisions provided through the Health Care Reform bill will improve the level of service when funding is increased. It will most likely have a significant impact on the number of women that are to receive better care and access to better resources and medical assistance including preventative programs.

Plan

Health Program Study of Elderly Women with Diabetes

First data will be collected and documented based on research for selected demographic, using the best practices. In addition all available government and state resources, and known information on elderly women with diabetes including elderly minority women facing disparities in care.

The program will require strategic planning and outreach to those targeted for the study primarily in the counties of Alleghany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George, Queen Anne, Somerset, St. Marys, Talbot, Washington, Worchester, and Wicomico. Other counties will be added once these have been completed. Plans will be customized to meet each demographic within the county as related to educating the target subject.

The task of followup with all women health advocate groups across the state to get participation and provide findings.

Generate educational audio, video, radio, television, and print media materials in the senior living centers, senior housing centers, senior medical centers, and senior activity centers throughout Maryland. So that the symptoms and health care options are communicated to those that need assistance.

Develop partnerships and cooperative relations with local community centers, libraries, public venues such as fairs, screenings, community events, and senior related events to provide educational materials. Some organizations include the Maryland Women's Commission, the Maryland's Office on Women's Health.

Finances

The cost of caring for those with Diabetes is one of the greatest of all Health Care expenditures. It is a full 10% of health care expenses since 2002. An estimate of over $100 billion was given in the late 90s and that has nearly doubled as of 2010. The amounts necessary to treat those with the condition is at $66 billion alone (Maryland.gov, 2011). This program is expected to continue for at least two years in order to have accurate information and to ensure the information is thoroughly disseminated throughout the state of Maryland.

In terms of funding this program, the money will be provided by a coalition of women advocacy groups, senior charitable service organizations, and donations from medical centers and hospitals seeking to contribute to meet corporate governance and ethical requirements in terms of helping the community.

Funding will also be sought from minority organizations interested in educating and providing health care services for elderly African-American, Mexican-American, and Indian and Alaskan American women.

It is also expected that national organizations and women's health agencies will be interested in the data being provided and willingly support the research. Organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, the Minorities Women's Health Organization, and local agencies such as the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which provides Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) programs (DHMH, 2011). At DSME are willing to add any educational programming to their service offerings (Kaiser Fdn, 2010).

Regulations

The regulatory committee for the Health Program Study of Elderly Women with Diabetes is under the oversight of Mercy Medical Center chairperson. The committee has several contacts with Board certified physicians at the Medical Center specializing in Diabetes care who will act as mentors providing consultative advisory services.

Stakeholder Information

The Mercy Medical Center has agreed to provide oversight and a third of the funding for the program. It is part of the corporate advocacy and community involvement governance initiative as a public service to the elderly Maryland women population.

Quality Assurance

Again the oversight committee has several Mercy Medical Board members as mentors and advisors who will sit in on the planning and execution of the program to ensure medical record information research and privacy rules are followed. The participants will have opportunity to sign or refuse to sign disclosure and waivers before submitting to the program. The research team likewise has to sign a privacy and disclosure statement to preserve the integrity of the program and screen those with access to personal information.

Conclusion

The Health Program Study of Elderly Women with Diabetes (HSEWD) Program has several provisions that are expected to aid Diabetic elderly women who face mortality due to lack of proper prevention, education, and government aid awareness. The hope is to provide the true numbers of how many are affected in Maryland which will give evidence of needed aid. Especially to women minorities who at the highest risk of mortality. In fact twice that of women and four times that of men in the same age group.

The program plans to interview, survey, and follow the care and lives of participants that have been diagnosed with symptoms such as heart disease, obesity, stroke, and vascular disorders such as glaucoma. With the hope of gathering information as to the number who have died because there was no intervening aid in the lives of those that are unaware that these are symptoms of diabetic conditions. Those under the disparities demographic are not properly represented with the findings from the program their voice will be heard so that future elderly women can benefit from interventions and preventative aids. Some of which are newly available through the new Health Care Reform Bill that was passed in 2010. Others through new programs that will be developed as followup by wonderful public medical centers such as the Mercy Medical Center who has graciously sponsored this research.