About Western Tribal Diabetes Project (WTDP)
Mission:
The mission of the Western Tribal Diabetes Project (WTDP) is to empower tribal communities to utilize diabetes data at the local level to track the Indian Health Service Standards of Care for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes, insure patients receive timely care, improve case management, identify gaps in care, and better address program planning.
Goals:
The goal of WTDP is to provide technical assistance to Northwest Tribes to develop a system for sustained data collection, reporting, and utilization. The goals of WTDP are designed to assist tribes in:
- Building a foundation to provide complete and accurate information about the care of patients with diabetes.
- Using an electronic diabetes register to make informed decisions about clinical diabetes care.
- Improving health outcomes.
- Reducing diabetes-related complications and preventing diabetes.
Strategies:
Tribal site visits and centralized hands-on computer trainings are at the core of the WTDP model. This model assists WTDP in tailoring technical assistance to address specific tribal program needs to improve diabetes data.
- Build a Foundation
WTDP will assist tribes in establishing an active, accurate diabetes register. WTDP works with the diabetes team to develop a work plan, conduct medical chart reviews, and assist in program planning. - Improve Data Utilization
WTDP will assist the diabetes team in using the diabetes register to make informed decisions regarding clinical care and case management. WTDP will assist the diabetes team in using the register to track and prevent complications in patients with diabetes, identify data gaps in the register, and improve the care of patients with diabetes. - Provide Tools to Tribal Diabetes Programs
WTDP has developed a number of tools for tribal programs that aid in assessing the data capture and utilization capabilities of diabetes programs. Tribal programs can use these tools to self-assess and determine what areas they need to focus on in order to arrive at using diabetes data for prevention activities. - Identify Patients At-Risk for Developing Diabetes
WTPD offers several tools that help tribal programs in screening patients for diabetes, and tracking patients who are at-risk for developing type 2 diabetes using the electronic register. WTDP assists tribal programs in using patient data to develop prevention strategies. - Distribute Diabetes Related Health Information
At the request of Northwest Tribes, the WTDP also conducts conferences and workshops pertaining to diabetes and diabetes related information.
Tribes Served:
The Western Tribal Diabetes Project serves the 43 federally recognized tribes in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The WTDP National component serves diabetes programs outside of the Portland Area.
Funding:
Project activities are funded by an annual 5% set aside from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians funding allocated to the Portland area.
