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North Country Diabetes Project
| Topics |
Health promotion and disease prevention
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| States served |
New York
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| Description |
A consortium has been established between Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center, a Regional Referral Health Care Center, Clinton County Health Department, a community health care leader, and the Joint Council of Economic Opportunity of Clinton and Franklin Counties (JCEO), a social service agency that conducts community outreach programs. The project is designed to finance the development, implementation, and evaluation of the North Country Diabetes Project. This endeavor has been designed based on best practice standards including the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Guidelines for quality diabetes self-management training.
The North Country Diabetes Project will target Clinton, Essex and Franklin County residents over the age of 45 who have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes. Innovative outreach activities will involve health professionals, as well as community workers, who provide relevant services to this population. This region is medically underserved with shortages of primary care providers. It is also socioeconomically disadvantaged. The median household income is significantly below State and national levels. Education levels are low adversely affecting health behavior and outcomes. This is reflected in the area's level of obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and lack of regular exercise causing significant rates of diabetes and complications from diabetes. This region reports a higher than State average of hospital admissions resulting in major health care costs and complications due to diabetes, which diminish quality of life.
Diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States. Diabetes cannot be cured. But it can be managed through life style modifications and appropriate health care. Without this intervention, patients suffer from serious complications-blindness, limb amputations, advanced renal disease and heart disease.
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| Services offered |
The North Country Diabetes Project will build ongoing community collaboration among core health care providers to increase access to diabetes care through the development of a physician referral network and establish an American Diabetes Association-recognized diabetes self management training program. The project will execute a unique community health approach including screenings, risk awareness, and education sessions, creatively using a registered dietitian at the Health Department, home health care registered nurses, JCEO case managers, and community outreach workers. JCEO volunteers will provide transportation to medical appointments for homebound seniors. Public service announcements will increase community awareness as will telehealth capability of 13 local libraries with Internet access to reliable diabetes education resources and postings for local services. Key community agencies such as the Office of Aging, The Senior Citizens' Council, and the United Way will publicize the project's services. |
| Results |
This project will reduce the impact that diabetes has on the tri-county region by increasing community awareness, improving health outcomes (i.e. decreased blood glucose levels, reduced complications and reduced hospital admissions) and increasing patient quality of life. |
| Source |
Rural Health Outreach Grantee Directory, 2006
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| Contact person |
Susannah Evans LeVon
Assistant Director of Nutrition Services
Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital Medical Center
75 Beekman Street
Plattsburgh, New York 12901
Phone: (518) 562-7550
E-Mail: slevon@cvph.org
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| Date added |
January 22, 2007 |
Summaries of success stories are provided by RAC for your convenience. Please contact the success story contact person directly for the most complete and current information.
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