The prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) service was recently awarded to Promise Community Health Center in Sioux Center, Iowa. The ADA believes that this service offers high-quality education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment.
DSMES services apply for Recognition voluntarily. Services that achieve Recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management. Education Recognition status is verified by an official certificate from ADA and awarded for four years.
Promise Community Health Center’s mission is to provide accessible, holistic healthcare that adapts to the needs of the community to improve the wellbeing of all persons. With this mission in mind, The Population Health Staff felt it was important to build an educational program that meets the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support. Promise wants their patients to leave feeling confident that they have the tools for diabetes self-management. DSMES is tailored for each individual’s needs, goals, and experiences.
“Equity for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, insurance or economic status is one of my driving passions,” says Stephanie Van Ruler, the Population Health Team Manager. “Fifty percent of the patients served by the population health team are uninsured or under-insured. Creating a high-quality diabetes education program was one way we can ensure that the highest quality of care is available to all.”
Throughout Promise Community Health Center’s pursuit of accreditation, they continued adjusting their process to ensure they were adequately meeting the needs of their patients, while continuing to offer high quality care. This included gathering necessary reportable data, creating a focus group, and creating a process for gathering continued quality improvement data.
Dr. Kendra Borchers, Clinical Pharmacist at Promise Community Health Center shared,” Knowledge is power. We want to provide the information necessary to promote our patient’s best health potential. By creating a high-quality diabetes education program, we can provide the necessary tools and information to help empower patients to take charge of their health and wellness.”
The Association’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational services meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support. The DSMES Standards were developed and tested under the auspices of the National Diabetes Advisory Board in 1983 and were revised by the diabetes community in 1994, 2000, 2007, 2012, and 2017.
The goal of Promise Community Health Center is to deliver high quality, evidence-based care. Through pursuing accreditation with the ADA, the Population Health Staff at Promise is ensuring their educational services meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support.
Kim Davelaar, Nurse Health Coach at Promise Community Health Center says, “I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the Promise team and mission for the past 6 years. I transitioned to health coaching 2 years ago and saw how many families are affected by diabetes in some way. My goal is to have every patient we have served to leave here feeling confident that they can live well with diabetes and that they have the tools to be their own, best health advocate.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)2017 National Diabetes Statistic Report there are 30.3 million people or 9.4% of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 23.1 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 7.2 million people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day more than 3,900 people are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications – heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease, and amputation.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading non-profit health organization supporting diabetes research, advocacy and information for health professionals, people with diabetes and the public. Founded in 1940, the Association continues to support people affected by diabetes nationwide.
For more information on Recognized education services in your area or other American Diabetes Association programs, call the ADA office at 1.800. DIABETE (342-2383) or contact the ADA online at www.diabetes.org/erp.
Our Promise Nurse health coaches work one-on-one with individuals and their families in the clinic setting to evaluate health needs, environment and barriers to better health. In doing so, they help their patients establish a plan and guide them and their families along the way to achieve the plan. They also work closely with local and state resources to ensure that each person receives the support that they need.
One of the services our Population Health team here at Promise offers is Health Coaching. We offer free, high quality health coaching for individuals and families. All of the health coaching centers around you as the patient – your goals, needs, and input. Another service we offer is Nutrition Counseling. The health coaches at Promise Community Health Center provide healthy eating counseling through education on My Plate, the Mediterranean Diet, and 5-2-1-0. One other service we offer is Weight Loss Support. The health coaches at Promise Community Health Center are here to provide focused, long term support to help you identify your why and help you reach your goals. Our Population Health team also offers High Blood Pressure Assistance. The Population health team at Promise Community Health Center works in collaboration with your provider care team and our Pharm D to ensure that your blood pressure is managed. Our health coach visits are free to you and allow you to learn what may be leading to your elevated blood pressure, how to monitor it in your home and what you can do to improve your numbers.
The Promise Community Population health team believes your health begins at home and is a family affair! Our Population Health team here at Promise offers Family/Kids Nutrition Support. Our team works closely with parents and kids to help provide education, resources and support on how to build a healthy lifestyle. Our Population Health team also offers Prediabetes Prevention/Education, along with Diabetes Care. Through collaborative efforts with the medical team, Promise Community Health Center is screening and identifying patients at high risk for prediabetes. When identified as having prediabetes, the Population health team will provide education, support and referral to Diabetes Prevention programs. The nurse health coaches at Promise Community Health Center work in collaboration with the provider care teams and Pharm D to provide you evidence-based education, support and access to the resources you need to live a long, vibrant life.
