St. Anthony Regional Hospital
311 S. Clark Street
Carroll, IA 51401
712-792-3581
www.stanthonyhospital.org

 DATE:   September 18, 2007                          For Immediate Release

For More Information, Contact:
Kellie Westercamp, RD,
(712) 794-1548
or Deb Dieter, RN, (712) 794-1549

NEWS RELEASE

St. Anthony Diabetes Center Receives ADA Recognition

In August 2007, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) awarded the St. Anthony Diabetes Center an Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program. The Diabetes Center offers high-quality education services to the patients it serves. The ADA certificate assures that educational programs meet the national standards for diabetes self-management education programs. Education recognition status is awarded for three years.

Programs applying for recognition voluntarily submit to a rigorous review process by experts in the field of diabetes who evaluate each program on its ability to provide patients with a comprehensive individualized education program. The facilities that achieve recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with complete information about diabetes management. St. Anthony Diabetes Center team approach includes the participants’ physician, a nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, and other healthcare specialists.  Dr. Dominick Ervelli and Dr. Greg Perkins provide medical direction of the program, and Barb Boldt, PAC is on the program’s advisory board.

St. Anthony Diabetes Center educates patients and family members in the successful self-management of diabetes. Classes include education about self-monitoring of blood glucose, an individualized meal plan and exercise regimen, and an insulin treatment plan for those who require insulin, as well as early identification and intervention to avoid future complications and medical costs. 

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 20.8 million people, or 7 percent, of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 6.2 million people are not aware they have this disease. Each day approximately 4,110 people are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications—heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease, and amputation. About 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older in 2005. Diabetes contributed to 224,092 deaths in 2002.

For more information about diabetes or the St. Anthony Diabetes Center, contact Diabetes Educators Kellie Westercamp, RD, (712) 794-1548, or Deb Dieter, RN, (712) 794-1549.