As part of the community element of the model, we formed partnerships and collaborations with leaders in the study community, the local physicians in the study community, the community hospital foundation, and the local lion’s club. The hospital foundation and the lion’s club partially funded the study.

These partnerships allowed us to tailor the care to the needs of the community. For example, nearly all of our clinics and DSME classes were held at the local hospital, however, one set of classes were held at a physician’s office in the community. We found out from that physician that his patients were not very likely to attend if they had to drive across the river the hospital. The attendance at this set of classes was near 100%