On Saturday, Oct. 29, the Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute (DHWI) in South Dallas hosted 760 participants in the DHWI Diabetes Fun Walk/5k Run presented by MedAssets. While walks and runs raising money for the research and treatment of serious diseases is nothing new, the beneficiary, DHWI, is one of the most unique health care initiatives in the United States. In fact, U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Regina Benjamin acknowledged DHWI at the 2011 World Congress as a care model that goes beyond walls to reach out to provide a greater understanding of diabetes.
All funds raised from the event benefit what Donna Rice, MBA, RN, CDE, FAADE, acclaimed diabetes educator, past president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and now DHWI president, calls DHWI’s non-traditional method to diabetes management.
“Traditional approaches to managing diabetes in South Dallas haven’t worked,” she explains. “Our approach is different: our staff takes our message to the streets, house by house, to act as educators and promoters of the Institute throughout the community.”
DHWI opened in summer 2010 as a public/private partnership between Baylor Health Care System and the City of Dallas. Located in the Frazier neighborhood – a community with one of the highest incidences of diabetes in the state – DHWI provides diabetes medical management and self-management education programs, along with primary health care, in an all-out effort to help people manage their disease.
The efforts already have paid huge dividends for this underserved population. More than 1,500 community members have participated in DHWI programs. Blood-sugar results for DHWI members have improved 17 percent from baseline levels and blood pressure results improved by 6.8 percent. Trips to the emergency department have dropped from 1.29 visits to .77 visits per participant per year.
“Until Baylor opened DHWI, a hospital entity that offered cooking classes, recreational activities, research and self-management classes in the middle of a community where a disease is prevalent was unheard of,” says Rice. “The funds raised during our second annual walk and run will help us continue our innovative work.”
Underwriters of the DHWI Diabetes Fun Walk and 5k Run presented by MedAssets included:
MedAssets, $25,000 Title Sponsor
Entegra Procurement Services, $10,000
PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLC, $5000
On Target Supplies & Logistics Charities, $5000
Oncor, $5000
Fulbright & Jaworski, $5000
Dean Foods, $5000
CBRE, $5000
AT&T, $5000
Jerry Farrington, $5000
Media Contact: Julie Smith
Julie.Smith2@BaylorHealth.edu
972-800-4060
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com
