The Health Trust Achieves Accreditation with American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE)

| Press Releases.

San Jose, CA–The Health Trust has demonstrated commitment to the field of diabetes education by becoming certified as an accredited program with the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE). By being accredited, the Health Trust will incorporate additional services such as Medical Nutrition Therapy and individual diabetes educational sessions with a registered dietitian to their suite of diabetes prevention and management services currently offered throughout Santa Clara County.

“We developed these additional service lines in response to the overwhelming need in our community. Seniors in particular need quality self-management resources such as Medical Nutrition Therapy and peer led Diabetes self-management groups,” says Paul Hepfer, Vice President of Programs for the Health Trust. “We will begin this first year with a focus on community members with Diabetes that are covered by Medicare and then expand out to other groups as we are able.”

One reason Diabetes education services have been underutilized locally is due in part to the lack of quality accredited programs.

The Health Trust is building on the success of the comprehensive Diabetes self-management education program that was developed by Stanford University Patient Education Center. This program has been offered for several years. This peer led program will now be complemented by the addition of licensed and registered dieticians. This suite of services is rounded out by evidence based peer led “Healthy Eating” programs developed by the USDA. Accreditation with the AADE ensures that each Diabetes education program meets the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support.

“Diabetes education is underutilized by the people who need it most. The Diabetes Education Accreditation Program (DEAP) validates that a program meets the National Standards and assures the participants are receiving quality education to help support their needs in self-managing their diabetes,” says Leslie Kolb MBA, BSN, RN – Director of Accreditation at AADE.

Hepfer adds that one reason Diabetes education services have been underutilized locally is due in part to the lack of quality accredited programs. “The Health Trust is excited to be able to extend this service to those who need it the most.”

In the United States, Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death1. Within Santa Clara County, nearly 8% of Santa Clara County residents have diabetes2,3,4. Age-wise, over 30,000 seniors over 65 years old have diabetes5. As for ethnic groups, a larger percentage of Hispanics are diagnosed with diabetes (11%) than Whites (7%) and Asians (5%)6. Most recent data in the United States also show that only 26% of diagnosed diabetics met with a diabetes educator and only 1.5% of Medicare beneficiaries received Diabetes Self-Management education and support7,8.

The Health Trust strives to close this gap. As a non-profit foundation, it provides culturally appropriate interventions to promote health and wellness in Silicon Valley. Classes will be offered at its main site, 1400 Parkmoor Ave Suite 230, San Jose, CA 95126 and at various other locations throughout Santa Clara County. If you or someone close to you have Diabetes and are covered by Medicare and would like to learn more about how to obtain any of these services, please contact Jennifer Briscoe at 408.961.9815 or jenniferb@healthtrust.org

  1. Centers for Disease Control. Basics About Diabetes. 2012; http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/learn.htm. Accessed March 10, 2013.
  2. 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/atlas/countydata/atlas.html. Accessed May 23, 1014.
  3. Santa Clara County, California. 2012. City-Data.com. Accessed May 24, 2014.
  4. Kaiser Foundation Hospital – Santa Clara. 2013 Community Health Needs Assessment2013.
  5. Oh A, Sills E, Bolce D, Martin PS. Santa Clara County Community Health Assessment 2007. 2007.
  6. Peddycord D, Fenstersheib M. Status of Latino/Hispanic Health: Santa Clara County 2012 2012.
  7. 7. McNeill TP. Evidence Based Program Sustainability: What States Need to Know. 2013; http://www.ncoa.org/improve-health/center-for-healthy-aging/content-library/CDSME-Grantee-Webinar_Feb-8-2013.pdf. Accessed March 6, 2013.
  8. 2007 Roper U.S. Diabetes Patient Market Study, November 2007. By permission of GfK Market Measures.