Advance the Expertise of the DCES: A Core Goal of the 2024-28 ADCES Strategic Plan
Dec 11, 2023, 10:14 AM
By Lucille Hughes, DNP, MSN/Ed, CDCES, BC-ADM, FADCES
During ADCES23, President Elect Dr. Jane Dickinson and I revealed the new 2024-28 ADCES Strategic Plan. This plan outlines the three overarching goals that ADCES will strive to achieve over the next four years. These three goals are improving access to diabetes care and education, advancing the expertise of diabetes care and education specialists (DCESs), and growing and diversifying membership.
In the last blog, ADCES Immediate Past President Dr. Jan Kavookjian described the purposeful efforts ADCES is putting in place to grow and diversity membership. In this blog, I have the privilege of elaborating on the second goal which is to advance the expertise of DCESs. This includes supporting and promoting evidence to enhance the knowledge of DCESs; providing evidence-based education, practice guidance, resources, and expertise to advance DCESs at all levels of practice; and provide career advancement opportunities.
These three goals are intertwined. To gain the respect we deserve as a valued member of the care team, it’s imperative that we possess the skills, tools and knowledge that promote our expertise in diabetes care, management and education. With value comes opportunities and job security. With expertise comes respect which will drive a desire for others to become a DCES. By growing opportunities, we grow access to care and access to a DCES, which in turn will allow us to impact more lives of those at risk for and living with diabetes.
In time, it is our hope that reimbursement for our services will also reflect our true value. ADCES is working tirelessly in the area of advocacy and reimbursement to support our work and to support our financial value. For many, this is not an area of comfort or confidence. The good news is that ADCES offers programs and resources in this area. If you have not already done so, please go to adces.org and discover all the wonderful programs available to build your knowledge, expertise, comfort and confidence with the business side of diabetes education. I encourage all of us to learn about every opportunity for reimbursement and share this information with others to support existing diabetes education programs and services and provide the evidence to support new ones.
While on our website, don’t forget to click on danatech or go directly to danatech.org. Danatech is a rapidly growing and continuously updated website dedicated to diabetes technology resources and education.
I am so excited about the new 2024-28 strategic plan. In a simple, clear, and concise layout, it outlines specific tactics and resources ADCES has committed to ensure each DCES has the resources needed to enhance their knowledge, advocate for their services and ensure a strong and growing profession. ADCES is committed to you, our valued member. It is our hope you realize your value and share your value. We are always here to support you. Thank you.