The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) announced the launch of the Diabetes Resources and Collaboration Hub (DRCH), Nov. 5.

DRCH is an online community that promotes collaboration and resource-sharing, connects diabetes educators to existing resources, and facilitates communication among NMCPHC, Navy diabetes educators, and others across the Military Health System.

NMCPHC conducted a rapid enterprise-wide scan to assess the types of diabetes-focused programs currently available in military and civilian health care environments. The findings indicated a demand for a diabetes self-management education program guide and resources that comply with American Diabetes Association and/or American Association of Diabetes Educators guidelines. As a result, NMCPHC developed the DRCH, which provides an evidence-based, standardized approach to Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) for the Navy.

"Through the DRCH, NMCPHC will equip diabetes educators with diabetes self-management education and support resources so they can focus their time and efforts on patient education and care rather than developing their own education and marketing materials from scratch," said Cmdr. Amy Drayton, NMCPHC Director of Population Health.

The DRCH, and its milBook group, act as a central repository for diabetes education materials and resources that can be used to create a new, custom program or enhance an existing local DSME program.

Diabetes educators and other health care providers who offer diabetes education and support can add educational materials and best practices to the repository, as well as engage in online discussions and attend collaboration events about DSME.

Using a Common Access Card, diabetes educators can access the DRCH milBook group at: https://www.milsuite.mil/book/groups/diabetes-resource-and-collaboration-hub.

To learn more about the DRCH, visit: http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/Documents/health-analysis/NMCPHC_Diabetes_Hub_Fact_Sheet.pdf.

For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit www.navy.mil/.