HRMC to partner with SDSU Extension for Diabetes Self-Management Education Project

Huron Regional Medical Center (HRMC) was recently selected to partner with South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension on a pilot project for diabetes prevention and education through the Better Choices, Better Health ® SD (BCBH-SD) Diabetes Self-Management Program. HRMC was awarded $15,000 in pass-through grant funding from SDSU Extension through a South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) grant project, which utilizes community health workers (CHW) to lead the BCBH-SD education surrounding diabetes.

Teresa Haatvedt, health care career and outreach director at HRMC, oversees three CHWs and the community liaison program at HRMC. “This pilot project comes at an opportune time for us, with four individuals already trained as lay leaders for Better Choices, Better Health SD Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, including all three of our community liaisons,” remarked Haatvedt. “We’ve identified diabetes as a high-ranking priority for our area, so this cross-training will serve our community well.”

The community liaison program strives to build relationships and connect patients to local services, bridge the gaps to accessing healthcare, and help the community reach optimal health. HRMC community liaisons represent and have specific connections to the diverse cultures in Huron.

Sau-Mei Ramos, community liaison for HRMC, recently facilitated a Better Choices, Better Health® SD workshop series for Chronic Disease Self-Management, all in Spanish, which is a first for the community. Now, with the grant funding, HRMC can train another culturally diverse leader to further expand access to diabetes prevention and education across cultures.

Norma Torres, RN, will begin the training to lead the courses in Spanish soon, thanks to the grant. She’ll join the HRMC community liaisons and Dennise Brock, registered nurse at HRMC, as a BCBH-SD lay leader. Brock has served as a facilitator for the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program workshop since 2014 and is looking forward to seeing the program grow, “There is immense value in getting individuals together to learn and support each other in navigating these health challenges to learn and practice healthy habits.”

As the project progresses, community members interested in becoming more educated about self-management of diabetes to improve their health will be able to enroll in the free program, which is typically comprised of a 6-week-long series of workshops. For more information or to express interest in joining the program, contact the HRMC community liaisons at 605-353-6516. You can learn more about Better Choices, Better Health® SD here.