St. Joseph Healthcare Launches Diabetes Institute for Patient Education, Research

St. Joseph Healthcare has established the St. Joseph Diabetes Institute of Behavioral Medicine, Maine's first organization dedicated exclusively to helping diabetes patients improve their quality of life.
The Diabetes Institute is a multi-disciplinary team of medical providers and clinical researchers whose mission is comprised of three distinct objectives: patient education and community services; training for medical providers; and educational research in diabetes behavioral medicine therapies.

"Our goal," says Dana Green, PA-C, a Physician Assistant and diabetes specialist, "is to develop and implement clinical and educational programs of clinical intervention and education for patients with diabetes and their families, to help them manage their disease more effectively." Green is director of the new program, which has been under development for several months.

As a part of the St. Joseph family of medical services, the Diabetes Institute incorporates resources from several related programs into its full "menu" of services, including St. Joseph Rheumatology, St. Joseph Endocrinology and the St. Joseph Nutrition Center, making it a one-stop center for the diabetes patient seeking better self-help services under quality medical supervision.

In addition, a full slate of self-help classes is being offered throughout 2010 for diabetes patients. This curriculum, says Green, "will help diabetes patients make the necessary behavioral changes in order to achieve better glucose management and decrease their risk of diabetes-related complications."

The Institute will also conduct extensive research in several areas, including behavioral medicine techniques, improving diabetes patient self-management, nutrition and exercise, art therapy and medical therapies for Diabetes patients.
Finally, each fall the Diabetes Institute will offer continuing medical education workshops to assist physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physicians, dietitians and nurses with improving the care they provide to diabetes patients.

The public may access all the details about the Diabetes Institute, including the complete schedule and description of courses, in the Institute's web pages.