Over the past few months, I issued articles regarding acronyms that are used in the My AADE Network: CB, LNG, COI. The primary goal of the My AADE Network is to help AADE Members network State-wide, regionally/locally, and across the country. This online portal offers both administrative tools and member community tools. Members can communicate with other AADE Members about various issues, share ideas, photos and stories, ask questions, and create instant virtual meet-ups, by using the “Discussions” links and the Member-only social Networking site. The previous blog articles were about the CB & LNG's; this time COI information is presented.
My AADE Network's Communities of Interest (COI's) were formerly know as AADE's Specialty Practice Groups (SPG's). These online Forums provide a resource for networking and sharing information specific to a particular interest group. A synopsis of the resources these 18 groups provide is presented here:
The Advanced Practice COI is geared to professionals working in or concerned with advanced practice issues. Complications & Care COI combines the Foot Care and Integrative Care COIs. Cultural Diversity COI features interests of the former African Amer., Asian & Pacific Islanders, Hispanic/Latino Amer., & Native Amer. COIs. The Diabetes Educators in Industry group provides a place to help bridge the gap in perceptions and realities of DEs working in industry. Additionally, this group finds ways for all diabetes Educators to work together in ethical, collaborative, and professional relationships that enhance diabetes education and improve the lives of people living with diabetes. The Diabetes Prevention COI is focused on type 2 diabetes prevention/risk reduction, connecting diabetes educators who are providing prevention services and those who are interested in learning about implementing such a service in their community. Diabetes Technology COI: The Isulin Pump Therapy and CGM COIs merged to form this COI, providing subscribers a place to discuss technological advances in diabetes.The goal of the Disabilities COI is to ensure that people with disabilities have full access to all components of diabetes education and to offer guidance to healthcare professionals who provide care to people with disabilities. Home Health Care Diabetes Educator COI provides opportunities to share and exchange ideas pertaining to the ongoing development of and changes within the home health setting. Inpatient Management COI focuses on the ongoing development of and changes within the hospital setting. The Office and Clinic Based COI provides a forum for members working in a physician's office or clinic. The Pediatric and Camp Educator COI connects professionals working with pediatric patients, and those working in diabetes camps across the United States. The Pharmacy COI provides a forum and networking opportunities for members to share and exchange ideas pertaining to the ongoing development and changes within a pharmacy-type environment, including community, hospital, long-term care, consultant, faculty or specialty practice clinic. The Physical Activity COI is for professionals interested in promoting physical activity’s function in the prevention of diabetes and as a treatment of choice within the diabetes education process. Plant Based Nutrition for Diabetes COI is a resource for diabetes educators wanting to learn about this therapeutic diet and implement it into their practice. The Post Career COI provides members who are retired or soon to be retired the opportunity to connect with other AADE members to discuss this next or current chapter in their professional life and how they are using their diabetes education experience and expertise to give back to their community, work with new diabetes educators, and to grow the specialty in their post career years. The Pregnancy/Reproductive Health COI is for those professionals interested in gestational diabetes issues including prevention of the onset of diabetes in women of childbearing capacity, and in children of pregnancies complicated by diabetes. The Public Health COI is for members working in or affiliated with the public health setting. The Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense COI provides sharing opportunities for members working or affiliated with the two federal agencies.
Many of the COI's have a Files section on each of their Home Pages that are very helpful, especially if needing access to Policies/Procedures, Protocols, Forms, other resources. To receive announcements, share suggestions/information, and participate in Discussions, for any/several of the COI's, hover over the "Communities of Interest" tab & click on topic of your choice; in the upper right corner, click on the Subscribe to this Forum button.
In addition to the COI's, several Practice Area Discussions Group Forums are available to AADE Members. The Behavioral/Mental Health Practice Area Discussions Group focuses on how patients with diabetes are impacted by behavioral and mental health issues; and gives practitioners a platform to exchange, present, and promote strategies for dealing with these issues. The Board Certified-Advanced Diabetes Management Group connects diabetes professionals worldwide who have obtained this certification, and those looking to obtain the BC-ADM in the future. The Rural Populations and Educators Group focuses on the complex mesh of social, economic, educational, and cultural factors that affect diabetes education practice, care, and treatment in the rural setting. The Young Adults with Diabetes Group connects Educators interested in better supporting young adults with diabetes, enables sharing of best practices, and focuses on the needs and problems faced by this population.
Please utilize the various resources provided by your AADE Membership.