The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self management education program was recently awarded to the Sebasticook Valley Hospital Diabetes Self-Management Program. The certificate covers the period of January 31, 2007 – January 31, 2010. The ADA believes that this program offers high quality education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.
The Association’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. These standards were developed and tested under the auspices of the National Diabetes Advisory Board.
Programs apply for recognition voluntarily. Programs that achieve recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management. “The process gives professionals a national standard by which to measure the quality of services they provide," stated David Pease, SVH Vice President of Human Resources and Community Health. “And, of course, it helps assure the consumer that he or she will receive high-quality service.” Kay Spofford, RDLD, CDE, is the Coordinator of the SVH Diabetes and Nutrition Clinic.
SVH provides diabetes self-management education, nutritional counseling, insulin pump education, community education about the disease, and a support group that meets the second Thursday of the month from 4:00 – 6:00 pm in the Cianbro conference room at 1 Hunnewell Square in Pittsfield.
According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 20.8 million people, or 7% of the population of the United States, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, 6.2 million people are not aware that they have the disease. Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its complications – heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve disease and amputation. Since 1987 the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45%, while the death rates due to heart disease, stroke, and cancer have declined.
The American Diabetes Association is the nations’ leading non-profit health organization supporting diabetes research, advocacy and information for health professionals, patients and the public.
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