Severe illness from COVID-19 is more likely in people who have certain underlying medical conditions. One of these is type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes and Covid-19: What To Do If You Get Sick
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Hamilton Medical Center Receives Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award
Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
HMC earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
“Hamilton is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke initiative,” said Meagan Darnell, Stroke Program coordinator. “The tools and resources provided help us track and measure our success in meeting evidenced-based clinical guidelines developed to improve patient outcomes.”
Additionally, HMC received the Association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards. To qualify for the Stroke Honor Roll Elite recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. To qualify for Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll recognition, hospitals must meet quality measures developed with more than 90 percent of compliance for 12 consecutive months for the “Overall Diabetes Cardiovascular Initiative Composite Score.”
“We are pleased to recognize Hamilton Medical Center for their commitment to stroke care,” said Lee H. Schwamm, MD, national chairperson of the Quality Oversight Committee and executive vice chair of Neurology, director of Acute Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass. “Research has shown that hospitals adhering to clinical measures through the Get With The Guidelines quality improvement initiative can often see fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates.”
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds and nearly 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
Doctor Joins Hamilton Diabetes and Endocrinology Center
Chantal Lewis, MD
, who recently joined Hamilton Diabetes and Endocrinology Center in Dalton, GA, says she knew she wanted to become a medical doctor at a very early age.
“My decision was driven by the life altering experience of looking after a loved one with a medical condition,” Lewis says. “Over the years, I have come to realize that no other profession would have allowed me to satisfy my passion to help humanity in a significant way. So far, my career has been extremely rewarding.”
Lewis is board certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She completed her residency at Pennsylvania Hospital (University of Pennsylvania Health System) and her Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Fellowship at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.
Lewis says her goal is to provide every patient with quality care using a team-based approach.
“Every new patient encounter presents an opportunity to understand patient values, goals and concerns,” she says. “I take these factors into consideration when deciding on the best available treatment plan. I believe that successful outcomes are not only the result of the patient-physician collaboration, but also the professional support of other caregivers who complete the team.”
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lewis, call Hamilton Diabetes and Endocrinology Center at 706.278.1622.
Diabetes Alert Day is March 26
American Diabetes Alert Day is today, March 26. Observed annually on the fourth Tuesday in March, Diabetes Alert Day is a one-day “wake-up call” that focuses on the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of understanding your risk. Common risk factors include: family history of diabetes, overweight, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, increased age, high blood pressure and history of gestational diabetes. Pictured are some staff members from Hamilton Diabetes and Endocrinology Center.
Are you at risk for diabetes? Click here to take the test.
Marcus Receives Recognition for Living with Diabetes
Amy Marcus has been living with Type 1 diabetes for more than 50 years, and she has received recognition for it.
Marcus, whose husband, Louie, works in the Facilities Department at Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, GA, recently received the Lilly Diabetes Journey Award for successfully managing diabetes with insulin. Recognizing thousands of individuals who have successfully managed their diabetes for 10, 25, 50 or even 75 years, the Lilly Diabetes Journey Awards Program’s goal is to honor those who have long been successful, but also to inspire others to believe they can do it, too. Mrs. Marcus received an engraved medal signifying her achievement.
Mrs. Marcus is a patient of Carlton Lancaster, MD, and Brooke Green, nurse practitioner, at the Hamilton Diabetes and Endocrinology Center.
“There’s a group of people that help me stay alive,” says Mrs. Marcus. “Dr. Lancaster is the best doctor ever, and I love Brooke to pieces.”
Mrs. Marcus is also a participant in Hamilton’s Full Circle, a comprehensive program that uses a personalized approach to improve health, happiness and purpose. Available to Hamilton employees and family members who are part of the organization’s health plan, Full Circle is for those who need personalized encouragement or have a risk for or have been diagnosed with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity or asthma.
“You can live with it (diabetes) if you have a good attitude and do what they (healthcare professionals) say,” Mrs. Marcus says.
Bradley Wellness Center Member Wins 5 Gold Medals in Senior Olympics Competition
Randy Russell is no stranger to swimming.
Growing up, Russell participated in swim teams all the way through college where he attended the University of Georgia and swam under Jack Bauerle, who has been the U.S. Olympic Team head coach.
Russell achieved many accolades in his swimming days, including 26 state championships in Georgia and state records in five different events. He also served as the president of the Chattanooga Area Swim League (CASL) in 2015, and all of his children swam for the Dalton Dolphins.
After not swimming competitively for almost 40 years, Russell won a three-month Bradley Wellness Center membership at the Whitfield Healthcare Foundation Golf Classic in April of 2018 and decided to start training again. After a friend told him about the Senior Olympics, he did some research and thought he could contend with the current top swimmers. He swims five days a week between 2,000 and 3,000 meters in each practice.
At his first competition at the Chattanooga District Senior Olympics (Age 55-59 category), he won five gold medals. He also met the qualifying standards for the National Senior Olympics which will be held in June of 2019 in Albuquerque, N.M.
“I believe having a goal to enter a competition gave me a reason to train harder in my workouts,” he said.
In addition to the benefits of winning, Russell has lost about 10 pounds and improved his blood pressure. He is a type 1 diabetic and wears an insulin pump.
“By getting in better shape by swimming, he has been able to keep his blood sugar levels under control and expects that training hard for nationals over the next seven months will put him in the best shape of his life,” said Megan Stockburger, program supervisor. “We are so proud of Randy and wish him the very best of luck at his future competitions!”
Hamilton to Offer Diabetes Workshop on Technology Assistance
Hamilton Diabetes and Endocrinology Center, formerly Hamilton Comprehensive Diabetes and Metabolic Center, will host “Healthy Holidays,” a diabetes workshop, on Tuesday, Oct. 2.
Dracey Adams, RN, diabetes clinician, will present the workshop from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the center at 1109 Burleyson Road, Suite 103.
The workshop will focus on keeping stress and sugars under control while enjoying the holidays.
Hamilton Diabetes and Endocrinology Center provides diabetes workshops on the first Tuesday in February, April, June, August and October