Building and Strengthening Your Referral Network

At a glance

Creating and maintaining a referral network may be critical to the long-term success of DSMES services. Use these tips and resources to establish and support an effective referral network.

Pins connected by wires to symbolize a network

Find a referral champion

Identify a health care provider in the community who refers people with diabetes to DSMES services, and encourage them to speak with other health care providers in the area about the benefits of referring.

Promote DSMES services

To people with diabetes

Create tailored promotional materials for the DSMES service to educate and empower people with diabetes to ask their provider for a referral to DSMES:

  • Websites
  • Brochures
  • Handouts
  • Quarterly newsletters
  • Social media posts

To providers

Promote DSMES services to:

  • Local health clinics and hospitals that aren't providing DSMES.
  • Health care providers treating people with diabetes.

Provide resources to facilitate referral to the DSMES service (such as a checklist for referring people with diabetes or a link to a referral form). Consider creating the following items that referring practices can adopt:

  • Standing orders
  • Care pathways
  • Workflows

Resources to promote DSMES‎

Use the DSMES Promotion Playbook to help promote DSMES services to both people with diabetes and health care providers. The playbook includes resources and materials like email templates and talking points to engage with health care providers. It also includes flyers, brochures, and a plain language description of DSMES services to promote services to people with diabetes.

Build partnerships

Identify and partner with specialist health care providers, such as registered dietitians, podiatrists, diabetic retinopathy specialists, endocrinologists, nephrologists, wound specialists, pharmacists, mental health providers, dentists, and others. While specialty health care providers may not make direct referrals, they can help increase interest in DSMES services or become DSMES health care providers themselves.

Consider building relationships with workplace wellness services. Employers benefit from DSMES services through improved productivity and reduced health care costs. Learn more about how you can talk about the benefits of DSMES services to employers.

To reach older adults, work with Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) for referral assistance. Many AAAs are accredited or recognized DSMES providers, but if not, they can recommend other DSMES services to their clients. AAAs can also help address barriers to participation, such as helping provide transportation to the DSMES service.

Keep Reading: Approaches to Promoting Referrals

Engage community organizations

Consider engaging community businesses and organizations, such as:

  • Barber shops
  • Beauty salons
  • Faith-based organizations
  • YMCAs
  • Civic organizations

Community outreach

Here are some ideas for partnering with community organizations:

  • Collaborate with local service and education providers.
  • Provide diabetes information through print, online, and social media resources.
  • Connect with local physical activity programs or resources.
  • Offer additional community support services, such as cooking classes.
  • Offer diabetes support groups.
  • Conduct community health fairs or diabetes expos.
  • Incorporate DSMES into non-classroom activities, such as exercise classes or supermarket tours.
  • Connect with community health workers (CHWs)/promotores de la salud to help bridge health care gaps and challenges facing rural communities.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ community partnership tools provide resources for working with communities. You can also find CHW networks and training programs on the National Association of Community Health Workers website.

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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Diabetes