|
|
Network: October/November 2007
Optima Health Coach Program Guides Diabetics
 |
| Pam Huggins | As a former Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for an OB/GYN group, Pam Huggins was used to helping educate women about gestational diabetes. She never guessed that one day she would be on the receiving end of that type of education.
But after a routine physical in spring 2006, Huggins, age 59, who works as an Authorization Coordinator for Optima Health, learned that her glucose level was high. She was referred for a glucose tolerance test. The diagnosis: Type 2 Diabetes.
“I was shocked,” she said. “I was very, very surprised. I had no symptoms, except I was tired a lot and thirsty, which I attributed to some medication I was on.”
Lifestyle Changes
As the daily regimen of finger pricks four times a day to check her blood sugar level began, depression over needed lifestyle changes soon followed. Fortunately, Huggins began working with Lynne Jonas, RN, CCM, a diabetes educator and case manager with Optima’s Health Care Services Program.
“Lynne was a huge help to me,” said Huggins. “She met with me and gave me a notebook outlining food exchanges and how I could still eat the things I liked just differently and in smaller portions.”
Jonas also kept in close contact with Huggins during a recent extended illness, calling once or twice a week to check in. “Her services were invaluable to me during that time,” said Huggins.
Patient Advocates
Health Coaches like Jonas build close personal relationships with their patients and serve as a resource to help them manage their disease.
“I work as part of an integrated health care team to help patients find the resources they need,” explained Jonas, who has served in her current role for four years, starting out in Disease Management, for a total of 19 years in all with Sentara.
“I want them to learn as much as they can and I want to help motivate them so they become empowered to make the best possible choices for their health. I make sure our members have regular follow-up with their health care providers and frequent lab follow-up.”
Optima Health offers disease management services to members, employing the LifeCoach strategy for its most complex, high-risk members.
Award-Winning Program
Launched in 2003, the LifeCoach program has two primary goals: to improve lifestyle and food compliance among Type II diabetics and to improve diabetes education and oversight among primary care practices who accept Optima Health plans.
Numerous patient success stories since its inception earned the program a Disease Management Association of America award in 2005.
Over 20 Million People
“Diabetics face a multitude of issues and concerns,” explained Jonas. “Diabetes ― no matter what type you have ― affects every aspect of the body. The bottom line is that diabetes can be controlled, but there’s no cure. Research is ongoing, but at this point over 20 million people in our country have been diagnosed, and a lot of people haven’t been diagnosed.”
You’ve Got a Friend
According to both Huggins and Jonas, a key factor in the success of the Health Care Services Program is accessibility of the case manager to the patient.
“You want to make sure your members can reach you if they need to,” said Jonas. “It’s a very confidential system. It’s important to establish a personal relationship with each member. You want them to feel like they could share anything with you.”
“Whenever I called her, she’d get back to me right away,” said Huggins. “She was wonderful. She was there through it all.”
Managing Her Fears
“It’s not just the physical side, it’s the emotional side,” explained Huggins. “When people find out they have diabetes it’s almost like a death in the family. You go through the stages of anger, fear — am I going to die, lose my eyesight or the use of my feet?”
While Huggins has faced her share of health challenges (unrelated to the diabetes) in recent months, she said she has lost weight, swims several times a week, only requires one finger stick per day versus four, and is pleased to report that her diabetes is well controlled.
“It can rule you if you let it,” said Huggins. “But I don’t let it rule me. I rule it.”
 Learn more about Optima programs and wellness.
Do you have a story idea for Network? Contact the Editor and share your idea.
|
|