The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #53470

Tiffany S. Sullivan, MPH, Office of Community Services, Palmetto Health, P.O. Box 2266, Columbia, SC 29202-2266, 803-296-3071, tiffany.sullivan@palmettohealth.org

In minority communities diseases such as diabetes run rampant. In the United States, 5.9% of the population is diabetic. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death and results in $98 billion in costs in the U.S. Even more devastating is the fact that almost half of all people with diabetes do not know that they have the disease. Diabetes is more prevalent in minority populations than in Whites. The disease seriously diminishes the quality of life for diabetics. Death rates are twice as high among middle-aged people with diabetes as among middle-aged people without diabetes. Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times as high as that of adults without diabetes. Other complications of diabetes include stroke, high blood pressure blindness kidney disease, nervous system disease, amputations, dental disease, diabetic ketoacidosis and hypersmolar nonketotic coma. Early screening to diagnose diabetes could have a positive impact on the cost of diabetes and may prevent later diabetes complications. Palmetto Health developed the Diabetes Screening Initiative in order to provide free diabetes screening to adults in the Midlands area of South Carolina. Successful partnerships have been developed with churches, grocery stores, shopping malls, local colleges and universities, low-income housing sites and more to educate minority communities regarding diabetes and to provide free screening to those who are at high-risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Since the beginning of the program in March 1999, close to 4,000 men and women have been screened for type 2 diabetes.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the attendees will be able to:
• Develop an action plan to maximize community resources to create successful outreach programs.
• Recognize organizations and businesses in the community that can provide unique and successful partnership opportunities.
• Develop creative strategies to recruit minority populations into disease prevention programs.

Keywords: Community Collaboration, Community Health Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Palmetto Health
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment