HHCInsider The Fund for HHC’s Big FIG Winner: Queens Hospital Center’s Diabetes Self-Management Education Program This year, The Fund for HHC’s annual $20,000 Big FIG award goes to a program that educates patients to function as partners in managing their disease. Queens Hospital Center’s innovative, American Diabetes Association-recognized SelfManagement Education Program provides the medical, nutritional, and educational coordination and support that diabetes patients need to understand the disease and keep it under control. Support is provided through weekly sessions conducted by Certified Diabetes Educators and Registered Dietitians. The sessions focus on topics such as carbohydrate counting, insulin administration, medications, how to manage blood glucose levels, reducing risk of diabetes complications, and weight management. Participants learn how to create individualized meal plans, activity plans, and participate in developing their own self-care goals and medical care plans. By better educating patients to control their diabetes, the program can help prevent hospital readmissions, emergency department visits, and the loss of productive days that can accompany uncontrolled diabetes. The program focuses on serving the individual needs of each patient. Such personalized attention shows. In a recent program survey, one patient wrote, “I was impressed with HHCInsider the knowledge of the instructor on food from different cultures, and how it affects the patients.” Another wrote, “I feel like I belong here.” “Last year, 1,150 patients participated in our program but here at QHC, we have 7,000 patients diagnosed with diabetes,” said Program Director Hildegarde Payne, RN, MA, CDE. “By enabling us to expand access through increased sessions that will include evenings and Saturdays, this grant will be a big help in reaching many more of our diabetic patients in need,” says Payne. The Fund for HHC Director Christina Powell said, “The Queens Diabetes Self-Management Program’s award is very well deserved. We are pleased that the BIG FIG will help to support its expansion, and empower more patients through education.” Apply for the The Fund for HHC’s Upcoming $5,000 Little FIG Applications for the next Fund Internal Grant, the Little FIG, are due on Monday, February 3. Click Here to Apply. We welcome your feedback! Send us your questions, comments, or story suggestions to [email protected]