Diabetes Education Specialist

Fairview Health Services•Cottage Grove, WI

About The Position

The Diabetes Education Specialist (DES) delivers comprehensive diabetes self-management education and support, integrating clinical and self-management aspects of diabetes and cardiometabolic care. As an integral member of the interprofessional team, the DES provides collaborative, comprehensive, person-centered care and education intended to support behavior change and improve quality of life across the lifespan. The role supports and advocates for people affected by diabetes, promoting self-management to achieve individualized goals, reduce risks, and optimize health outcomes. The specialist provides individualized and group education for people with Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes, as well as pre-diabetes. The role assesses patient needs, develops individualized goals and follow-up plans, coordinates care, communicates progress with primary care providers, and documents care according to departmental and ADA standards. The DES also works collaboratively with healthcare colleagues, participates in system-wide diabetes education efforts, maintains current professional knowledge, and supports quality initiatives related to diabetes care.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Dietetics, an associate degree in Nursing, or a Doctorate of Pharmacy.
At least 1 year of professional practice in dietetics, nursing, or pharmacy.
Minnesota Registered Nurse (RN) license, Registered Dietitian credential, or Minnesota pharmacy license.

Nice To Haves

Master of Arts or Master of Science in Dietetics.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
2 years of professional practice in dietetics, nursing, or pharmacy.
Diabetes Educator certification.

Responsibilities

Provide direct diabetes education to patients individually or in groups using the specified curriculum.
Assess patients’ physical, psychosocial, behavioral, and educational needs, including self-management, blood glucose monitoring, nutrition, physical activity, medication-taking, and health-maintenance labs; use findings to identify individualized clinical and educational needs.
Teach diabetes self-management skills and concepts and facilitate behavior change for people with Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes and pre-diabetes.
Collaborate with patients to establish individual goals.
Communicate with primary care providers about patient progress.
Evaluate patients’ comprehension of education and develop follow-up plans to address ongoing needs.
Document assessments, interventions, evaluations, and follow-up in accordance with departmental and ADA standards.
Individualize education presentations and materials to patients and their circumstances.
Coordinate care around patient goals and outcomes, revise plans or refer patients for additional services as needed, and document patient responses and the rationale for actions and decisions.
Keep program content current and consistent with ADA standards and Fairview Diabetes Care.
Apply adult learning techniques in individual and group education settings.
Use organizational knowledge to address patients’ immediate and potential critical needs and arrange provider contact when appropriate.
Collaborate with physicians, pharmacists, hospital staff, clinic staff, and other healthcare team members.
Participate in the system diabetes educator team to support consistency in curriculum and data collection.
Use support systems appropriately and efficiently to provide services.
Accept responsibility for assessing professional performance and participating in peer review.
Pursue ongoing learning to maintain current knowledge and skills, and practice in accordance with relevant professional standards, guidelines, and Fairview protocols.
Encourage and support quality clinical initiatives related to diabetes care.
Stay aware of established measures and monitoring processes and help patients meet established goals.