January Partner Spotlight
Jan 04, 2013
Background
Newton Medical Center (NMC) is a not-for-profit facility dedicated to providing health care services to residents of Harvey, Kansas and surrounding counties, regardless of race, color, sex, age, religion or ability to pay. In support of National Diabetes Month 2012, NMC partnered with community organizations and the NDEP to raise awareness of diabetes and the importance of making lifestyle changes to prevent type 2 diabetes or manage the disease to prevent complications.
Outreach and Promotions
Newton Medical Center and supporting partners sponsored several events during November to promote the theme, “Give Thanks! I Can Help Prevent Diabetes in Myself.”
To kick off the month, NMC hosted Dinner with the Doctor, a diabetes prevention
panel discussion open to the general public that featured presentations by a family
practice physician, obstetrician/gynecologist, and Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE).
In addition to enjoying a diabetes-friendly dinner, attendees were able to ask questions
about type 2 diabetes prevention and receive educational materials. During the event,
NMC distributed NDEP’s
Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Step by Step.,
More than 50 Ways
to Prevent Diabetes, and
It’s Never Too Early to Prevent Diabetes tip sheets.
Newton Medical Center Primary Care Clinic employees led two “walkabouts” throughout the month to encourage regular exercise. Clinic employees invited the area’s Chambers of Commerce, as well as city leaders, community members, and the local elementary school to join the walks at a local park. A number of hospital employees also led walkabouts along hospital walking paths. Participants received the NDEP’s Small Steps. Big Rewards. Your GAME PLAN to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes booklet as a prize. Children also received NDEP’s Tips for Kids: How to Lower Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes.
To follow up on this effort, NMC arranged to have CDEs give a presentation to the Chambers of Commerce titled, “Fifteen Minutes to Effective Carb Counting – Help Prevent the Onset of Diabetes” and distributed NDEP’s More than 50 Ways to Prevent Diabetes tip sheet.
Newton Medical Center also coordinated roundtable discussions with doctors and CDEs targeting patients at risk for type 2 diabetes. Doctors mailed their at-risk patients personal letters inviting them to join the roundtable discussions to talk about steps they can take to prevent type 2 diabetes or manage it to prevent complications. To guide the discussions, doctors used NDEP’s Prevent Type 2 Diabetes. Step by Step. tip sheet and The Road to Health Toolkit.
Additional activities during the month included healthy cooking classes hosted by dietitians, and collaborations with other health care facilities, ministries, and community organizations to distribute NDEP materials to at-risk audiences.
Newton Medical Center promoted National Diabetes Month events via the NMC website, electronic signs at the hospital and along the highway, posters in the hospital lobbies, and local media using resources from NDEP’s National Diabetes Month promotional toolkit.
For more information, contact Vallerie Gleason at val.gleason@newmedctr.org.
