AADE's Roadmap for 2016-2018
Jan 12, 2016, 14:55 PM
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enerally, the most efficient way to get to a destination is to plan ahead and use a road map (usually electronic these days). To move forward as an organization, we also need a road map! But what does this look like for you and AADE? Let me introduce AADE’s 2016-2018 Strategic Plan. It was created by many stakeholders, well-thought out, and carefully reviewed.
Where did we start? During the 2014 AADE Annual Meeting (yes, nearly one and a half years ago), a large group of stakeholders was brought together for an initial planning session, guided by an expert in strategic planning. We looked at where we currently were, and then considered the possible future of diabetes and diabetes education. Then, at our January 2015 AADE Board Meeting, we spent another day with a guided session, followed by several sessions for the Board and a Board committee, and a lot of work by the AADE staff. Our result was a carefully planned road map to guide us to the future, from 2016 to 2018, and beyond.
To best serve people with diabetes, we looked at roles of many others in the Diabetes Educators Spheres of Influence, including Communities, Healthcare Systems, e-Communities and the Global Environment.
One key change from our previous Strategic Plan, which successfully moved us into our current position, was to put “INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES: Persons with, affected by, or at risk for diabetes and related chronic conditions” in the center. We have always felt that this was our main focus, but this time we wanted to be crystal clear. To best serve people with diabetes, we looked at roles of many others in the “Diabetes Educators Spheres of Influence” including Communities, Healthcare Systems, e-Communities and the Global Environment.
The next step was to revise our Mission, Vision and to put forth Guiding Principles. Check them out on the AADE website.
To achieve our goals, we will work toward four key items:
- Diabetes Educator Excellence
- Value-Based Services for Population Health Management
- Diversity and Access
- The Future
As for specific steps on the road map, we have seven strategies, or areas of focus, each with explicit outcomes to measure our success. These areas are similar to the way we measure success with behavioral and program goals in diabetes education.
The strategic areas include:
- Emerging Roles and Profession of Diabetes Education and Management
- Population Health Management and New Models of Care
- Diversity in Membership, Products and Services
- Access to Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
- Digital Technology and Connected Health Environment
- Global Initiatives and Partnerships
- Long-Term Vision for AADE
I encourage you to take a few minutes to look through the Strategic Plan. You might even reflect on where you fit into this future.
Don’t be overwhelmed: AADE is here to help you. As diabetes, diabetes care, our healthcare environment, and our profession move forward, how can we—as diabetes educators/professionals/individuals—evolve to move toward our destinations in the next few years?
About the Author
Karen Kemmis is a physical therapist, exercise physiologist, certified diabetes educator, and also holds certifications in Pilates for rehabilitation and exercise for aging adults. She is based out of SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY and splits her time between a Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate, an outpatient rehabilitation department, and a PT program where she is an adjunct professor.