(July, 2022) Oneida Indian Nation Health Services’ Yukwata’kali:ték Diabetes Program recently achieved reaccreditation by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES). Accreditation represents a high level of quality and service to the community, and the ability to better meet the needs of American Indian patients affected by diabetes in the Oneida area. The Oneida Indian Nation program has been accredited since 2011.
“Providing resources and opportunities for healthy living is a cornerstone of our commitment to our people today and unto the seventh generation,” said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Turning Stone Enterprises CEO. “American Indians have long been linked to statistics of poor health, and especially diabetes. We are proud to be at the forefront of the effort to turn those numbers around by continuing to provide top-quality care through our diabetes program.”
Since 1989, Oneida Indian Nation Health Services has been an integral part of the Oneida Indian Nation’s mission to help Members receive the best in physical and mental health services. Relocated to a new state-of-the-art facility in 2016, Oneida Indian Nation Health Services serves as the medical facility for more than 3,500 American Indians living in Central New York. In 2009, Oneida Indian Nation Health Services was lauded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for “exemplary performance” in providing quality care to its patients and undertaking proper documentation to “benefit patients and improve overall quality of care to patients.”
The Yukwata’kali:ték Diabetes Program located at 2057 Dream Catcher Plaza in Oneida, NY offers diabetes education sessions at Oneida Indian Nation Health Services by appointment to registered Oneida Member and American Indian clients.
“Reaccreditation by the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists helps ensure that our program at Oneida Indian Nation continues to provide high quality and evidence based diabetes care,” said Mollie Tracy, RDN, CDN Diabetes Program Coordinator for the Oneida Indian Nation Health Services. “This is immensely important for the American Indian population who continues to be disproportionally impacted by Diabetes Mellitus.”
Diabetes education services utilize a collaborative process through which people with or at risk for diabetes work with a diabetes educator to receive individualized care to help them reach their health goals. Diabetes education is a covered Medicare benefit when delivered through an accredited program.
“Evidence shows diabetes education and support is helping people with diabetes to lower their A1c’s and obtain the knowledge and skills to better self-manage their condition,” said Sacha Uelmen, Director of Accreditation at ADCES. “That is why we need programs like Oneida Indian Nation Health Services’ Yukwata’kali:ték Diabetes Program to make these services available in their community.”
ADCES is a National Accredited Organization (NAO) for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Accredited programs must meet the 2022 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support; standards are revised every 5 years by a group of diabetes educators representing both ADCES and the American Diabetes Association and approved by CMS. Programs must maintain compliance with the Standards during the 4-year accreditation cycle.
