Building Competency in Diabetes Education THE ESSENTIALS

1-12 | CHAPTER 1

difference, is in helping our patients work towards informed self-care. If we do our part with dedication, perseverance and passion, it will be the foundation from which to build. Please use the information in this manual to help inform your decisions. In any clinical practice, there must also be the realization that decisions are not solely based on one aspect of care, i.e. knowledge. The ingredient of ‘clinical judgement’ must be added to make an informed decision. As Dr. Hertzel Gerstein has stated: “ Neither evidence nor clinical judgement alone is sufficient. Evidence without judgement can be applied by a technician. Judgement without evidence can be applied by a friend. But the integration of evidence and judgement is what the health-care provider does in order to dispense the best clinical care” (19).