DFSC launched the Surgical Quality Collaborative Diabetes Initiative (SQCDI) in 2022 to help surgery patients manage their diabetes before, during, and after hospital admission for better health and recovery.
This initiative extends the work of the South Carolina Surgical Quality Collaborative (SQC), established in 2015. SQC was designed to improve patient experience and outcomes following general surgery. It found that surgical complication rates were nearly double for patients with diabetes than those without.
The SQCDI program supports proper management of diabetes to help prepare patients for surgery, improve their outcomes and deliver benefits of improved overall health.
The program conducts thorough preadmission evaluations and prehabilitation planning to reduce surgical risks related to diabetes. It optimizes blood sugar levels and addresses diabetes complications before surgery.
The prehabilitation team includes a lead surgeon, and a nurse practitioner/CDCES® who serves as clinical program lead. The prehabilitation team collaborates with the patient’s existing medical team, social support network, and specialists in endocrinology, cardiology, ophthalmology and psychology when needed.
The SQCDI is currently available at:
- MUSC Health University Medical Center, Charleston.
- MUSC Health University Medical Center, Orangeburg (referrals).