Effective September 2, the Outpatient Nutrition Services Program will merge with the Outpatient Diabetes Education Program at St. Anthony’s Medical Center. The new Outpatient Diabetes and Nutrition Services will operate from a single setting at Medical Plaza, 12700 Southfork Road, Suite 225, the current location of Diabetes Education. Mary Lawrence, MSN, CDE will be the Program Manager for the merged service. Ms. Lawrence said the “merger simplifies the referral process for providers and enhances continuity of care for many patients, especially those with diabetes.” You can reach Ms. Lawrence and the staff at 314-525-4506.
September 4, 2008
SLU Med Students Focus on Diabetes Care and Education
Last semester Sara Schwager and PatriciaEuster took on the tough job of changing the way th
e health care system works for people with diabetes. Their work, as part of a special program through the Dept of Community and Family Medicine, led to the development of a presentation on the fundamentals of diabetes management (download) and an annual worksheet for tracking recommended services and lab test results, etc (download). Approximately 60 family medicine preceptors across the region were invited to use their tools. It’s good to know that these future physicians will carry forward this field experience dedicated to improving the quality of care for patients with diabetes. Way to go, Sara and Patricia!
August 25, 2008
Sold-out Event Builds Community Leaders
A couple days ago the St. Louis Diabetes Coalition hosted the Diabetes Leadership Institute at the Missouri History Museum. The sold-out Saturday event was attended by 35 participants. Unfortuneately, the wait-list of about 50 could not be accomodated due to room size limitations. A little bit of advertising in two local newspapers went a long way. The participants enjoyed a hands-on learning program about taking control of diabetes… and helping others do the same too. Garry Tobin, MD, Kathy Little, RN, CDE, Denise Strehlow, RD, MPH, MSW and Eric S Armbrecht, PhD led the group sessions. The program was a huge success with the help of Tish Singer who assured all the details were in order. Special thanks go out to Michelle Hasket from Roche who helped demonstrate proper set-up and use of a blood glucose meter. Comments, questions and interactions among participants clearly showed how valuable programs like the Diabetes Leadership Institute are in the community. Plans are underway for the next Diabetes Leadership Institute in October or November. The Coalition is looking for a few sponsors… at very reasonable rates. Hint, hint.
August 25, 2008
Elvis Coming to Senior FunFest in September
The Information for Older Adults RESOURCE GUIDE will be published soon in preparation for the St. Louis Times FUNFEST, an event that typically draws 700+ senrors. Free copies to all attendees as well as the 1,000+ organizations whose listings are included. Available at the Maryland Heights Centre on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, the event will be open to the public from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm and organizations can pick up their copies from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Sponsorship, exhibitor booths, live entertainment (including Elvis!), health screenings and more offer a terrific marketing opportunity as well . With exhibitor booths available on a first-come first-serve basis due to limited space. For questions contact St. Louis Times at 636-225-2442, info@stlouistimes.com, www.stlouistimes.com.
August 25, 2008
dLife: Log On and Take a Look
If you are not familiar with the website dLife.com, take a look. There are a number of resources for patients and diabetes educators, including video spots known as dLifeTV. www.dlife.com
July 23, 2008
Diabetes Leadership Institute: Saturday, August 23
The St. Louis Diabetes Coalition will host the Diabetes Leadership Institute on Saturday, August 23, 10 AM - 1 PM at the Missouri History Museum. Lunch provided. Women and men with diabetes are invited to this hands-on learning program about taking control of diabetes… and helping others do the same too. Led by local diabetes experts, the small group sessions will address diet, exercise, medications, how to talk with your health care provider, and ways to help others in the community living with diabetes. Space is limited. To learn more or make a reservation, contact Tish Singer: (314) 747-9533 tsinger@im.wustl.edu. Download the flyer and pass it along to interested individuals and organizations.
July 23, 2008
In Memorium: Robert W. Whitlock
Robert W. Whitlock, MSSW, MHA, LCSW, Director of the Missouri Kidney Program (MoKP) and leader in the kidney community, passed away on July 20, 2008. The MoKP, a state kidney program affiliated with the University of Missouri , was established in 1968 to assist Missouri residents with chronic kidney disease in meeting their medical, financial, psychological and educational needs. During Mr. Whitlock’s 14-year tenure as Director, the MoKP subsidized medication and transplant-related expenses for over 2100 low-income patients with kidney disease, educated 2000 patients about their treatment options through the Patient Education Program, and conducted research funded by the National Kidney Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control, and HRSA’s Division of Transplantation. He proudly served in the U.S. Air Force, both on active and reserve duty, from 1972 until 1978. He was the father of Jessica and Joshua Whitlock, grandfather of Victoria and Xavier Whitlock and beloved husband of Margo. He leaves a legacy of improved care of kidney patients throughout the entire state of Missouri. May peace be with the Whitlock family.
July 23, 2008
26 Rap about Conversation Mapping
On July 22, the St. Louis Diabetes Coalition hosted a training program for 26 health care prof
essionals to learn about and discuss the Conversation Map approach to diabetes education. The Coalition thanks Merck for sponsoring the event and SLADE member Kathy Little, RN, CDE for being the facilitator. Ms. Little has been to 30 states and 95 cities to provide 100 training a programs. It must have been nice to do one so close to home. Thank you to everyone who attended… especially one nurse who traveled from the Bootheel to join us. For more information about Conversation Maps, goto www.healthyi.com.
July 17, 2008
Coalition Exhibit Featured at Conference on Community Benefit
On Tues, July 15, the St. Louis Diabetes Coalition accepted an invitation from the Saint Louis University School of Public Health to exhibit at a national conference on evidence-based community benefit. The conference, Making an Impact: Evidence-Based Community Benefit, introduced new public health evidence-based tools and knowledge to health care practitioners in order to enhance the effectiveness of community benefit programs and thus the overall health of communities. About 200 people from more than 30 states attended. The Coalition’s exhibit featured its educational programs as examples for health systems to consider as strategies. There is a movement afoot in non-profit health care (which most health systems are) to clearly document and demonstrate community benefit. Why? The IRS has changed the rules on how health systems must report what they do for the community to earns their non-tax-paying status.
July 17, 2008
PrandiMet Coming Soon
On June 23, the FDA approved a fixed-dose combination of the meglitinide, repaglinide, with the biguanide, metformin HCl (PrandiMet; Novo Nordisk, Inc, and marketed by Sciele Pharma) for use as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who are already being treated with a meglitinide and metformin or who have not achieved adequate glycemic control with either component alone. PrandiMet will be available by prescription during the second half of 2008. Use of the combination product is contraindicated in patients with renal impairment or metabolic acidosis and in those receiving both gemfibrozil and itraconazole. The FDA advises that renal function should be assessed and verified as normal before initiation of therapy and at least annually thereafter. Here’s the FDA label.
