The West River Health Services diabetes self-management education service in Hettinger, ND has been awarded continued Recognition from the American Diabetes Association.  The service was originally recognized in 2002.

The ADA Education Recognition effort, begun in the fall of 1986, is a voluntary process, which assures that approved education services have met the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Services.  Services that achieve Recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide state-of-the-art information about diabetes management for participants.

Self-management education is an essential component of diabetes treatment.  One consequence of compliance with the National Standards is the greater consistency in the quality and quantity of education offered to people with diabetes.  The participant in an ADA Recognized service will be taught, as needed, self-care skills that will promote better management of his or her diabetes treatment regimen.  All approved education services develop individualize participant education plans that include any of the following topics as needed: diabetes disease process; nutritional management; physical activity; medications; monitoring; preventing, detecting, and treating acute complications; preventing, detecting, and treating chronic complications through risk reduction; goal setting and problem solving; psychological adjustment; and preconception care, management during pregnancy, and gestational management.

Assuring high-quality education for participant’s self-care is one of the primary goals of the ADA Education Recognition Program.  Unnecessary hospital admissions and some of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes may be prevented through self-management education.

“The process gives us national standard by which to measure the quality of the services they provide”, commented Linda Nudell, RD, CDE, Manager.  “With support from the health care team, the person with diabetes can assume most of his/her own care and live well with diabetes.”

For more information, contact Quality Coordinator Barbara West, RN CDE at 701-567-6203.

Pictured left: Linda Nudell, RD, CDE, Manager
Pictured right: Barbara West, RN CDE, Quality Coordinator