June 15, 2008
Top, from left: Lorraine Gill, Annette Coyle and Kit Eischen from YKHC Diabetes Prevention & Control; Judy Fancyboy, Beverly Tinker and Maria Nick from PIlot Station; Martha Constantine from Kwethluk; and Bill Schreiner, CHAP Director. Bottom, from left: Michelle Olick, Elena Alexie and Martha Olick from Kwethluk; Helen George from Pilot Station.
Partnering to improve care
Pilot Station and Kwethluk Health Aides trained to manage Type 2 Diabetes
By Annette Coyle, RD LD, Clinical Diabetes Educator
The Diabetes Prevention & Control Program and the Community Health Aide Training Program have partnered to improve the care that is offered to individuals with chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
Clinical diabetes educators travel to villages once or twice each year to offer diabetes self-management education to individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Health aides see individuals with type 2 diabetes each month when their medications are refilled. By making use of the frequent contacts they have with health aides, individuals with diabetes will have more opportunities for education and monitoring.
Research has shown that individuals with type 2 diabetes who have frequent contact with a health care practitioner have better control of their diabetes and experience fewer complications.
This is not only better for each individual but also reduces the burden on the entire health care system. Remember that healthy individuals make up healthy communities and healthy communities are happier and more productive!
Healthy communities are more able to honor our traditions of cooperation, hard work, successful hunting, caring for Elders, sharing, and respecting ourselves and others.
Kwethluk and Pilot Station were chosen for a nine-month partnering project which begins this month and runs through December.
Kwethluk health aides Elena Alexie, Martha Constantine, Martha Olick, Michelle Olick and Pilot Station health aides Helen Green-George, Judy Fancyboy, Maria Nick, and Beverly Tinker came to Bethel at the end of March for two days of intensive training in the management of type 2 diabetes.
Community Health Aide Program Director Bill Schreiner provided an overview of the scope and purpose of the project. Clinical Diabetes Educators Annette Coyle, Kathleen Eischen, and Lorraine Gill designed and provided the training.
Topics included the physiology and management of diabetes, counseling and motivational interviewing, identifying needs and concerns, foot care, glucometers, charting, stress management and self-care.
After returning to their communities, health aides began seeing diabetes patients. Plans are to see each diabetic patient each month when their medicines are refilled and once every three months for a more comprehensive visit. Data regarding A1c, blood pressure, and LDL will be tracked to see if the more frequent visits improve these markers of good health.
During each visit patients will have the opportunity to discuss a variety of topics including nutrition, weight, glucose monitoring, exercise, depression, tobacco, alcohol, sodium, sex, medications, and stress. These visits provide a wonderful opportunity for each patient to learn more about how to successfully manage their diabetes.
Equally important, this project provides an opportunity for members of the community to help their health aides. We all know that our health aides form the backbone of primary care in the YK Delta. By participating in this project, individuals with type 2 diabetes have the wonderful opportunity to help their health aides grow in their practice and expand their knowledge of how to care for people with diabetes. This will benefit not only the health aides but also the entire community.
Thanks to all the health aides who agreed to participate in this project and to all the patients who have agreed to participate. You are all doing a great job and we appreciate you!
Quyana!
