In 2015, the Carolinas Center for Medical Excellence, the
Lowcountry Area Health Education Center and Palmetto Care Connections began a
collaboration to provide diabetes self-management education and training via telehealth
to rural areas of South Carolina. The
intent was to expand the reach of diabetes education to those in the state
unable to travel to receive the education.
The education is offered in a series of five classes that cover all
aspects of diabetes self-management as outlined by both the American Diabetes
Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators. The classes are taught by a registered dietitian
and certified diabetes educator.
Thus far, there have been eight complete series of classes
in Walterboro, with a ninth series in process. There have been 57 Walterboro
participants referred to these classes and 43 participants have attended at
least one class. Thirty participants
have graduated from the classes. An additional clinical site in Barnwell county
joined via telehealth during the fourth series. Twenty participants have been
referred to the Barnwell classes and 11 have attended at least one class, while
six participants have graduated from the Barnwell site. Follow-up evaluation is
being conducted to determine the efficacy of using telehealth for diabetes
education.
For more information about the program, please contact
Lowcountry AHEC at 843-782-5052.