The AADE Board of Directors met on April 12, 2014, where they advanced several pieces of association business as held a number of strategic conversations. The meeting focused on the future of the profession and how the association can best be positioned to meet the dynamic needs of our diverse membership.
The Board’s primary discussion centered on three strategic areas:
AADE Practice Documents – Following member and stakeholder review of the proposed revision to the AADE Guidelines for the Practice of Diabetes Self-Management Education the Board approved (with revisions) the clarifications (both via narrative and illustrating figures) recommended by the Practice Documents Task Force Identification. An overview of changes to other AADE practice documents and a conceptual overview of a communications plan were also developed. Additional information and communication to members will be available this summer.
AADE’s Role in Diabetes Prevention – The Board gave consideration to the healthcare systems’ continued philosophical and reimbursement-related shift toward prevention. Discussion centered on the intersection of diabetes prevention and prediabetes education with diabetes self-management education and support. Consideration was given to prevention being a natural extension of diabetes educators’ skills and focus, AADE second year of experience as a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) DPP program grantee and the number of members indicting they currently provide some level of prediabetes education/information.
Review and Approval of an Advocacy Strategic Plan - In recognition of AADE’s ongoing support of federal and state advocacy initiatives, as well and the growing volume and complexity of that work in particular the expansion of state licensure, the Board approved an Advocacy Strategic Plan. It is designed to deliberately and efficiently advance our federal, state and professional advocacy activities.
In addition the Board discussed several other items of business including:
- A proposed process for strategic planning, which included the engagement of key stakeholders and selection of a facilitator to develop our 2016-18 plan.
- The organization of AADE’s website content into a more accessible Knowledge Center framework. This is to be initiated later this year in conjunction with the association’s planned website redesign and launch.
- AADE’s auditing firm, Plante Moran, presented its 2013 audit of the association’s accounting practices and financial statements. No issues were identified.
- The Board selected recipients for the 2014 Distinguished Service, Lifetime Achievement and the Diabetes Educator of the Year awards.
- The slate for the 2014 leadership election was shared along with a report from the Nominating Committee chair.
- Finally the Board provided mid-year performance feedback to the chief executive officer.