A Medical Device Daily

Baylor Healthcare System (Dallas) reported that it was officially awarded a $1.7 million grant from the Merck Company Foundation (Whitehouse Station, New Jersey) to enhance and expand diabetes care by developing additional community collaborations throughout Dallas County.

Known as The Diabetes Equity Project, the program is part of the Merck Company Foundation's Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes Healthcare (www.alliancefordiabetes.org). The goal of the program is to mobilize community-based partners to help close gaps in diabetes care for low-income, underserved diabetics residing in Dallas County.

The five-year grant will fund the enhancement of the existing diabetes program at Central Dallas Ministries as well as establish similar programs in four other local health clinics.

The Diabetes Equity Project consists of three components: the implementation of a disease management program where patients can receive education about their disease and learn self-care practices; a physician development series to enhance doctor-patient communication and cultural competency; and a health system intervention consisting of a diabetes management software application to help monitor patients' participation in the program and their outcomes.