IES2025 Research, Audit and Quality Improvement Projects E-Posters (60 abstracts)
Transforming Type 2 Diabetes Care through Rapid Improvement Event in Carlow/Kilkenny (Award Winning)
Dr Farooq Khan 2 , Lisa Hennessy 2 , Maura Dowling 2 , Eimear Maher 2 , Geraldine Hanlon 2 , Aneyrose Xavier 2 , Mirza Ahmad 2 , Colm McGurk 2 , Niamh Horan 2 , Fiona Byrne 2 , Martin Murphy 2 , Eileen Joyce 2 , Jennifer Ward 2 , Lisa Kennedy 1 , Olive O’Grady 1 , Mary O’Sullivan 1 , Ciara Cuddihy 1 , Hannah Scott 1 , Rita Whelan 1 , Dr Michael Lockhart 1;2 , Dorothy Moore 1;2; & Dr Ihtisham Malik 1;2
1Chronic Disease Hub Carlow Kilkenny, Community Services, James Green, Kilkenny, HSE, Ireland, R 95 RP 26; 2St Luke’s General Hospital, Freshford Road, Kilkenny, R 95 FY 71, HSE Dublin and South East
Background: Sláintecare’s Enhanced Community Care (ECC) programme promotes the right care in the right place. In Carlow/Kilkenny, many people with type 2 diabetes were still attending acute hospital clinics despite being suitable for community management. A Rapid Improvement Event (RIE) was initiated to address this.
Objective: To implement clear integrated care pathways for type 2 diabetes and measure transfer of suitable patients from acute hospital to community care within 120 days.
Methods: The RIE involved multidisciplinary hospital and community stakeholders over five days, preceded by four to six weeks’ preparation. Processes for referral and transfer were mapped, gaps identified, and solutions co-designed. Tools implemented included agreed referral criteria, updated prompt sheets, IPMS/Cellma transfer functions, and standardised GP/patient letters. Progress was reviewed at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days.
Results: At 120 days, 38% of type 2 diabetes patients in Carlow and 40% in Kilkenny were successfully transferred from acute to community specialist care. Clinic capacity improved, review intervals shortened from 14 to 11 months, and rapid access reduced from 9–10 weeks to 3–4 weeks.
Conclusions: A structured RIE can rapidly transform service delivery, reducing acute workload and enabling more timely, person-centred community care. Sustained monitoring and stakeholder engagement are essential to maintain gains.
Volume 115
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Endocrine Abstracts
ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
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