Friday, January 14, 2011
Additional Funding Will Be Used To Enhance Renfrew County’s Diabetes Education Services
PEMBROKE – As part of the provincial Diabetes Strategy, the Pembroke Regional Hospital has received additional funding to enhance diabetes education services in Renfrew County.
According to Program Coordinator Karen Roosen, Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long- Term Care has provided funding to hire an additional diabetes team that consists of a full time nurse and a full time dietitian.
“The pair will work as an outreach team, providing diabetes education services to areas such as Golden Lake and Petawawa through their Family Health Teams, and Cobden, Beachburg and Killaloe through their Community Health Centres, as well as to seniors’ homes and other outreach sites as required. The team will also assist in waitlist management across all sites,” Mrs. Roosen said.
The Renfrew County Diabetes Education Program is a regional program administered by Pembroke Regional Hospital which offers diabetes education services across five hospital sites in Renfrew County in the communities of Arnprior, Deep River, Renfrew, Pembroke and Barry’s Bay.
Following a recent inventory of services and an analysis of supply and demand for diabetes services across the Champlain Region, Renfrew County was identified as a priority area requiring additional diabetes team resources to address the health needs of residents with diabetes and those at risk of developing the disease.
According to Statistics Canada, Renfrew County’s prevalence rates for diabetes, hypertension and obesity are among the highest in the province.
“Over the past year, the diabetes educators provided 7,179 visits to 2,485 clients diagnosed with diabetes which is only 50% of the total number living with the disease, let alone the 15- 20% that are at risk of developing diabetes due to their life style and hereditary factors,” said Program Coordinator Karen Roosen.
Dr. K.C. Li who is the medical lead for the Pembroke Regional Hospital Diabetes Education Centre said that with the additional team, it is hoped that a significantly larger percentage of clients living in the region will be able to access the services we provide.
The diabetes education services offered include screening, assessment, individual and group classes, follow up consultations as well as public awareness sessions for the community.
To access the Renfrew County Diabetes Education Services, members of the public are invited to contact any of the five hospitals in Renfrew County or Karen Roosen, Program Coordinator at 613-732-2811 ext. 6530.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Carolyn Levesque, Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator, Pembroke Regional Hospital
(613) 732-3675, ext. 6165
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