Community Memorial Healthcare Earns Accreditation for Diabetes Education and Support

Community Memorial Healthcare’s Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) program has achieved the significant milestone of accreditation by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES). Accreditation represents a high level of quality and service in diabetes healthcare to the community, and the ability to better meet the needs of Medicare recipients and those affected by diabetes in Ventura County. Diabetes education is a covered Medicare benefit when delivered through an accredited program.

Community Memorial Healthcare’s DSME program is an outpatient program available by referral through the Community Memorial Health Centers. It is the only accredited diabetes education program in Ventura County.

“As the only accredited Diabetes Self-Management Education program in Ventura County, we are extremely proud of the service we are providing to our community,” said Dr. Anthony Russell, Community Memorial Healthcare Chief Administration Officer, Ambulatory Medicine.  “With over 29 million people with diabetes in America, programs like ours are vital to supporting patients and preventing complications due to diabetes.”

ADCES, formerly known as the American Association of Diabetes Educators, is a multi-disciplinary professional membership organization dedicated to improving diabetes care through innovative education, management and support. ADCES has over 14,000 professional members including nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and exercise specialists helping those who have or are at risk for diabetes.

Diabetes education services use a collaborative process through which people who have diabetes or who are at risk for diabetes work with a diabetes educator to receive individualized care. At the Community Memorial Health Centers, primary care providers and endocrinologists diagnose, treat, and oversee the management of diabetes. Certified RN Diabetes Educators who specialize in diabetes care and education work in the Community Memorial Health Centers to provide one-on-one consultations in English or Spanish for patients with diabetes. The education includes the core principles of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialist’s ADCES7 – self-care behaviors including healthy eating, being active, taking medication, healthy coping, monitoring, problem solving, and reducing risks.

“As a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact this program has on individuals with diabetes,” said Wendy Amaro, Community Memorial Health Centers Manager of Population Health. “Our patients are achieving lower A1C scores, developing the confidence to self-manage their condition, and living healthier lifestyles overall.”

Community Memorial Healthcare is a nonprofit, independent health system serving the needs of Ventura County, California. It is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital – Ventura, Community Memorial Hospital – Ojai, and a network of primary and specialty care health centers across its service area. The organization is supported by the Community Memorial Foundation and the Ojai Valley Hospital Foundation. Visit mycmh.org for more information.