CDCES, RN Certified Diabetes Education Specialist

Opportunities with Reliant Medical Group, part of the Optum family of businesses. Join a community-based, multi-specialty, physician-led organization where you will work with talented peers on a common purpose: improving the quality, cost and experience of health care. Here, we focus on delivering the best patient care, rather than volume. Through innovation and superior care management, we support patients and your well-being as a team member. Join a team at the forefront of value-based care and discover the meaning behind Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Working closely with the endocrinology provider, primary care providers and others to provide education and monitoring services to all adult patients with diabetes.

Location: 1 Eaton Place, Worcester, MA 01608. Will be required to travel to other local sites regularly

Hours: Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, however, hours may vary depending on business needs

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provides evaluation and education for adult patients with diabetes and supports patient progress toward diabetes self-management goals
• Provides care in the individual and group setting
• Works with primary care providers throughout the organization to provide education and monitoring services for all referred patients with diabetes
• Works closely with the staff endocrinology providers to identify patients that require education and monitoring services
• Manages a caseload of patients independently
• Assesses patients for their learning needs, follows them appropriately and documents in the patient electronic medical record
• Keeps abreast of new developments in the area of diabetes care. Maintains certification as CDE as applicable
• Provides staff education for nurses or others at various sites as requested
• Collaborates with the practice manager in relation to time utilization and program development. Utilizes the curriculum developed for the care of diabetes patients
• Provides professional and courteous care to patients. Participates in monthly patient support groups
• Provides support, teaching and ongoing management services to insulin pump and gestational patients
• Provides diabetes self-management education in both group and individual visits. Provides glucometer instruction
• Provides adjustments of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) within the recommendations of the ADA's current Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Assists the patient in monitoring of blood glucose readings/patterns within glycemic goals set forth within the ADA's current Clinical Practice Guidelines or as specified by the patient's primary care provider (PCP) or endocrinology provider
• Provides instruction on administration of subcutaneous as well as non-insulin injectable antihyperglycemic agents
• Provides instruction on use of a glucagon kit with the patient and/or a family member or friend
• Recommends upward or downward adjustments within 10-20% of the patient's current insulin dosage with approval by the PCP or endocrinology provider within 24 hours
• May recommend a new insulin, this will require verbal and subsequent written/electronic approval by the patient's PCP or endocrinology provider
• May recommend initiation, discontinuation, or dosage change of an oral agent or non-insulin injectable antihyperglycemic agent, this will require verbal and subsequent written/electronic approval by the patient's PCP or endocrinology provider
• May hold an antidiabetic oral agent, non-insulin antihyperglycemic injectable agent or insulin if deemed necessary by his/her assessment of the patient. This action requires contact with the patient's PCP or endocrinology provider within 24 hours
• Recommends prescription orders/refills to be approved by the PCP or endocrinology provider
• Recommends orders under authorizing provider the following lab work: A1c, AST, ALT, serum creatinine, cholesterol panel, microalbumin
• May recommend the following consults: Endocrinology, Ophthalmology, Podiatry, Nutrition, and Behavioral Medicine
• Complies with health and safety requirements and with regulatory agencies such as DPH, etc. Complies with established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives
• Enhances professional growth and development through educational programs, seminars, etc. Attends a variety of meetings, conferences, and seminars as required or directed
• Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed. Regular, reliable and predicable attendance is required

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Current, active Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Dietician (RD)
• Certification as a diabetes educator (CDE)
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science or equivalent experience
• Experience in an endocrinology setting where experience with patients with diabetes was part of the role
• Demonstrated knowledge of various software applications such as Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.