Utilizing a nurse practitioner to enhance diabetes management programs in home health.

: There are challenges in caring for patients with diabetes. Home health should utilize nurse practitioners who have specialty diabetes programs for homebound individuals within their practice. Agencies benefit from designing specific disease management program models that provide standardized delivery of care with defined outcomes that can be evaluated for program effectiveness. Collaboration between programs like DOS and chronic disease management programs within home health agencies can achieve optimal patient outcomes and potential cost savings.