Name
#105 Overcoming Barriers to Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Use in U.S. Veterans Affairs Healthcare Settings: Real-World Strategies Informed by an Educational Initiative
Speakers
Content Presented On Behalf Of:
Other entity not listed
Session Type
Poster
Date
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Start Time
5:00 PM
End Time
7:00 PM
Location
Prince Georges Expo Hall E
Focus Areas/Topics
Clinical Care
Learning Outcomes
1. Summarize barriers that limit CGM adoption across Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare settings.
2. Describe evidence-informed strategies to improve CGM integration into VA health care.
3. Identify factors associated with higher CGM uptake among VA providers.
2. Describe evidence-informed strategies to improve CGM integration into VA health care.
3. Identify factors associated with higher CGM uptake among VA providers.
Session Currently Live
Description
Introduction: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology holds potential to benefit the large population of Veterans with diabetes receiving care through the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system. Although recent VA policy changes have expanded patient eligibility and access to CGM, greater awareness of implementation barriers are needed to support broader CGM adoption. Methods: Survey data were collected from VA providers participating in CGM-focused accredited continuing medical education (CME) delivered through either one-hour live virtual sessions with healthcare teams (8 sites in 2021, 4 sites in 2023) or a 30-minute online video (2023-2024). Pre-education surveys assessed baseline confidence levels, practices, and perceived barriers to CGM integration. Post-education surveys evaluated the impact of the education and participants’ intended actions for improving CGM use. A subset of live session participants completed a 90-day follow-up survey to assess practice changes after the education. Results: Pre-education surveys from 351 VA providers showed that fewer than 60% reported high confidence in, or consistent use of, CGM. The most commonly cited barriers to CGM use were system-level challenges and practice inertia (21%-36%). Post-education surveys (N=190) demonstrated increased confidence and intent to prescribe CGM, with greater gains among participants in live sessions (28%-46%) than those in video-based programs (13%-19%). However, despite this increased intent, follow-up surveys (N=45) indicated that most providers (71%) had integrated CGM into fewer than 25% of patient treatment plans. Providers with the highest levels of CGM adoption were the least likely to report knowledge barriers and implemented workflow changes to facilitate CGM integration. Conclusions: Despite expanded CGM access within the VA, barriers to adoption into care persist. Findings from this study suggest that provider education is foundational, but not sufficient for improving CGM utilization. Interactive, team-based educational approaches, coupled with implementation strategies such as workflow optimizations, may enhance CGM adoption.