TRH’s Diabetes Education Program Receives National Recognition
BREVARD, N.C., Aug. 13, 2010 – The American Diabetes Association recently recertified Transylvania Regional Hospital’s diabetes education program for four more years for meeting national standards for diabetes self-management education.
The ADA believes that TRH’s program offers high-quality education that is an essential component of effective diabetes management.
“The certification process gives professionals a national standard to measure the quality of services we provide,” said Diane Davis, MHS, RN, TRH’s Diabetes Care Program coordinator. “Of course it also assures the consumer that he or she will receive personalized up-to-date services by providers of care considered experts in their field.”
The TRH program opened its doors in 1997 with a start-up grant from the Duke Foundation. It was originally recognized by the ADA in 2001 and has maintained that certification ever since. The program has served nearly 2,500 people with diabetes in Transylvania County and surrounding communities.
Davis works mainly with outpatients, who have often just been diagnosed with diabetes or are having trouble managing this chronic and often progressive condition. In addition to prescribing meal plans and exercise, Davis and her team of a dietitian, an exercise physiologist and a stress counselor help the patient monitor blood glucose, learn to read food labels correctly, become more active and cope with stress. The team works with patients on an individual basis or in small groups. The cost of the service is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private health insurance plans.
Nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes, with more than 4,000 people diagnosed with the disease each day. Diabetes is at epidemic levels in the United States and the rate of new cases is rising. Diabetes education encourages improved diabetes treatment by expecting and teaching patients to take increased self-responsibility for the management of the disease. Patients with increased awareness and knowledge of the disease can often avoid hospital admission and reduce their risks of acute complications from diabetes. Personal decisions and a patient’s ability to make good choices are the main tenants of this type of care.
For more information on the diabetes care program at TRH, call 883-5195.
About Transylvania Regional Hospital
Transylvania Regional Hospital is a nationally ranked 5-Star Hospital and a leading provider of quality healthcare services in Transylvania and surrounding counties. Based in Brevard, N.C., it is a not-for-profit hospital founded in 1933 and is the largest employer in Transylvania County.
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