In addition to providing direct clinical expertise, HIIP’s medical leaders oversee hospital-wide policies and protocols related to glucose and insulin management, ensuring regulatory compliance and the consistent implementation of evidence-based standards of care for inpatient glucose management.

HIIP provides specialized care for high-risk patient populations, including those in post-surgical settings and individuals under cardiovascular surgery, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary critical care, kidney transplant and heart failure services.

The HIIP team serves as the primary team responsible for managing blood glucose levels in the units it covers. Blood glucose is monitored multiple times daily, with insulin regimens proactively adjusted as needed throughout the day to maintain optimal glucose control. The HIIP team works closely and continuously with nursing staff to ensure timely and effective glucose management for each patient.

HIIP is an inpatient consult service available at University of Michigan Health, including at University Hospital, the D. Dan and Betty Kahn Health Care Pavilion and the Frankel Cardiovascular Center. 

In addition to functioning primarily as an inpatient service, the HIIP team is unique in offering virtual outpatient follow-up for patients who are newly started on insulin at discharge until they can be seen by their primary care provider or establish care with an endocrinologist.

Furthermore, after discharge, patients can contact the HIIP team by pager with questions regarding their glucose levels and treatment plans.

HIIP team leaders review safety events related to insulin and non-insulin therapies, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia and glucose management. Through the leadership of the Glycemic Management P&T Subcommittee, they spearhead quality improvement initiatives aimed at preventing recurrent glycemic safety events and advancing excellence in inpatient hyperglycemia and diabetes care across the health system.