National award presented to seven community health centers for innovation in diabetes care

BD, Direct Relief, and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) honored seven of the nation's 1,200 community health centers with the Innovations in Care Award at this week's Community Health Institute and EXPO in Orlando, Florida.

"This year's winners represent the best of what's possible for community health in the U.S.," said Vincent A. Forlenza, Chairman, CEO and President of BD. "We are excited and proud to support and scale-up these new models of care."

Part of the BD Helping Build Healthy Communities™ initiative, the $100,000 Awards acknowledge innovative approaches to the prevention and treatment of diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. The following winners were selected with guidance from a panel of experts in diabetes, its co-morbidities, and clinical and community healthcare:

ACCESS Community Health Center, New York City, NY, received an award for their use of technology to help adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities achieve better diabetes management outcomes. While the value of technology in primary care is well-documented, Access Community Health Center is evaluating combinations of technology with health education and disease management practices to address the unique learning needs of individuals and their caretakers.

Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc. (APHCV), Los Angeles, CA, received an award for their efforts to improve diabetes outcomes for high-risk, diabetic, and monolingual Chinese and Vietnamese patients. These patients, who have difficulty sustaining diabetes care in traditional patient-provider settings, respond better to tailored, interactive programs that are both linguistically and culturally appropriate. APHCV's five-session diabetes workshop includes diet education, a grocery store tour, community gardening, cooking demonstrations, and recipe contest. The program also encourages physical activity and action planning through hands-on group discussions, resource materials, and practice.

Beaufort Jasper Hampton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. (BJHCHS), Ridgeland, SC, received an award for its Lifestyle Change Program for pre-diabetes and diabetes. Based on evidence that lifestyle changes reduce the incidents of diabetes, BJHCHS piloted the program in 2012 and 2013, with full implementation in 2014. The results proved a success, with an overall decrease in BMI and LDL cholesterol, an increase in time spent exercising, and maintenance of A1c at pre-diabetic levels. BJHCHS plants to expand the program by incorporating diabetes education modules from the American Association of Diabetic Educators.

Cornell Scott-Hill Health Corporation, New Haven, CT, received an award for the implementation of Integrated Diabetes Shared Visits. This program will benefit 120 participants (18 and older) with uncontrolled diabetes (A1c greater than 9%). Participants will attend group sessions and learn about diabetes, weight management, hypertension, and depression. They will receive health screenings and take lifestyles surveys upon entry and after 13 and 26 weeks to measure outcomes.

Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley, San Jose, CA, received an award for developing an intensive, 17-week lifestyle intervention curriculum for patients with or at risk of diabetes. A multidisciplinary team that consists of a registered dietician, lifestyle health coaches, and fitness coordinators deliver the curriculum and help participants develop individualized plans that emphasize healthy eating, weight loss, behavior change, and empowerment.

Jericho Road Community Health Center (JRCHC), Buffalo, NY, received an award for their innovative approach to Diabetes education. JRCHC provides medical services to a diverse patient base that represents more than 70 nationalities. With upwards of 800 diabetic patients, JRCHC manages to bridge the language and cultural gap through an in-house translator -- one of only two minority certified diabetes educators in Western New York.

Neighborhood Healthcare, Escondido, CA, received an award for their newly created Medication Therapy Management Program, which targets patients with diabetes and hypertension. Sixty-seven percent of Neighborhood Healthcare patients with diabetes have a co-diagnosis of high blood pressure. Providers have observed issues with medication adherence, dosing, interactions, and delays in achieving optimal blood pressure. The Medication Therapy Management Program helps improve patient safety for high risk patients by integrating medication management to minimize harm related to adverse drug events and maximize optimal health outcomes.

"The Innovations in Care Award recognizes a significant and typically unrecognized fact: clinics and community health centers are America's healthcare safety net," said Thomas Tighe, President and CEO of Direct Relief. "Direct Relief is delighted to work once again with BD and NACHC to recognize and support such new and unique approaches to community health."