Navajo Area Model Diabetes Program
Shiprock
Diabetes Program
Shiprock, New Mexico
Kim Mohs, M D, Director
Mamie Deneteclaw, Coordinator
Northern Navajo Medical Center
P. O. Box 160
Shiprock, N M 87420
Phone: (505) 368-6843
FAX: (505) 368-6260
Program Description
The I H S program provides comprehensive home-based, family-oriented
diabetes education for the newly diagnosed (less than 2 years)
person with diabetes, his/her family and their community.
The program objective is to enable the person with diabetes
to live well (physically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially),
which empowers them to perform diabetes self-care and make
choices that lead to blood sugar control and the prevention
of complications. The program is easily accessible to people
with diabetes for information, skilled support staff, and
referral to other resources. the program also provides diabetes
education in the community, and to other health care providers,
and promotes awareness and prevention of diabetes within the
Navajo Nation. The program consists of four staff: The program
director is a registered nurse and certified diabetes educator,
diabetes nurse educator, registered dietitian and program
secretary
Data/Epidemiolgy
The Model Program provides patient care services in the Shiprock
Service Unit area
- Population base-42,000
- Active Registry number
Clinical Accomplishments 1994-1999
- Home visits: 2,150
- Diabetes screening--2,409 (middle & high schools,
churches, senior centers, & social events)
- Nutrition Education--2,290 (clients and their families)
- Education (individual)--2,298 clients
- Education (group) (115): 5,562 individuals (C H R's, nursing
assistants, community health workers, driver/interpreters,
secretaries, nutrition assistants and clients)
- Diabetes conferences-professional (52):2,388 individuals
(R Ns, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners,
physical therapists, pharmacists and optometrists)
- Community diabetes education (group) (69):4,487 individuals
(tribal leaders, councilmen, church members, community members
at the chapter houses, health fairs, and other groups/organizations).
Resource Development
- Videos (Narration in Navajo and English)
- Seeing Eyes (retinopathy and laser treatment
- Children of Long Life (exercise and nutrition)
- Insulin Administration (demonstration on injection)
- Eat Less Fat Today (demonstration on less fat selections
and cooking with less fat)
- Let's Take A Hike (physical activity for the family)
- Pamphlets and Flip Charts
- Beat Diabetes (illustrations and basic diabetes information)
- Live Long in a Healthy Way (drawings and basic diabetes
information)
- What is diabetes (basic information on diabetes)
- Diabetes Navajo terminology (basic Navajo words)
Health promotion and disease prevention activities with the
Navajo Nation--includes education on wellness, healthy eating,
screening, healthy snack sampling, morning walks, etcetera.
Role modeling is encouraged (numbers included in clinic accomplishments
section)
- Navajo Nation Tribal Council-1997, 1998
- Diné Spiritual and Cultural Society-1997, 1998,
1999
- Native American Church of Navajoland-1998,1999
- Native American Church of North America-1998, 1999
- Christian Reform Church of Shiprock-1998
- Navajo Nation Tribal TV Station and Radio-1997,1998,1999
- Navajo Area Wide Health Board-1999
Challenges
- No telephone service to majority of homes on the reservation
causes difficulty in regular contacts
- Failed appointments by clients cause providers many unnecessary
trips to client homes
- No permanent office space, causing program to move 3 times
in 5 years
- Due to limited program staffing with Navajo Area Diabetes
Program and the Model Diabetes Program, the director and
secretary run the Navajo Area Wide Diabetes Program
Unique Contribution
- The program has actively bridged the communication gap
between Indian Health Service Diabetes Programs and the
Navajo Nation. Information on diabetes is shared on a professional
level. Model Diabetes Program staff's ability to create
linkages with the I H S and Navajo Nation has created a
positive working environment towards the management and
prevention of diabetes within the Navajo Nation.
|
PROGRAM DIRECTORY |
Division of Diabetes
|
Aberdeen Area
|
Alaska Area
|
Albuquerque Area
|
Bemidji Area
|
Billings Area
|
California Area
|
Nashville Area
|
Navajo Area
|
Oklahoma Area
|
Phoenix Area
|
Portland Area
|
Tucson Area
|
|