Annual Report 2010 - Gifford Medical Center

in the community
Left, volunteer Mickie Richardson assists community
members in preparing their Advance Directives during
National Healthcare Decisions Day.
Center, Chef Steve Morgan does a cooking
demonstration at the annual Diabetes Education Expo
which offers a day of free advice on self-management
techniques.
Right, New Parent Group participants, like Clarke
Collins and his daughter Muirin say they get heartfelt,
expert advice.
Free services for diabetics,
moms and the chronically ill, to name but a few
If you have diabetes, chances are you have a lot of
health care appointments to have your eyes, feet, diet and
blood work monitored. Chances are those health care
appointments also add up financially. But for diabetics
visiting Gifford Medical Center, the opportunities for
diabetes education at no cost are pretty remarkable for a
rural community hospital.
Connie DeCoste of Randolph was recently diagnosed
with diabetes and visits Gifford’s Diabetes Clinic and
registered dietitian regularly. She also attended the free,
annual Diabetes Education Expo in November, and
couldn’t say enough about it.
“It was amazing,” Connie says. “It was so people-friendly
and educational. We talked about real important stuff in
everyday language. I took a lot more away from it than I
expected.”
Gifford chefs gave a talk and cooking demonstration,
and a cardiologist discussed diabetes and heart disease.
Participants peppered him with questions for an hour.
“It was fun. He made it
interesting,” Connie says.
“It’s like
motherly
advice, but it’s
coming from
an expert
source.”
Clare Barnard,
Wilder
For Braintree’s Susan
Moore, it was meeting others
with diabetes that had the
strongest impact.
“I met a lot of people there
who are struggling with my
issues and heard about what
did and didn’t work for them,”
says Susan who was diagnosed
with diabetes several years ago.
“Sometimes just knowing you
are not the only one is the best
thing of all.”
Susan also attended a
presentation in August by Dr.
Milton Fowler and Chef Wendell Fowler on “Diabesity:
Making Good Food Choices.” “It really hit home because
Chef Fowler had once walked in our shoes and had found
a way to turn his health around. I have since taken some of
the ideas he presented to use in my own kitchen.”
The Expo comes but once a year, so many diabetics meet
monthly at the free Diabetes Support Group. It’s led by
trained facilitators and helps attendees keep in touch with
others and receive support throughout the year.
Diabetes education, however, is just one way Gifford
reaches out to the community. Free six-week classes for the
chronically ill called Healthier Living Workshops are offered
about four times a year through the Vermont Blueprint for
Health. Tobacco cessation help is offered through the Quit
in Person Group. Health fairs and men’s health screenings
are also offered. You can receive free help completing and
filing your Advance Directive. Gifford’s chaplain offers oneon-one
grief and loss support. Gifford providers frequently
speak at schools and volunteer at regional free clinics as well
as overseas in impoverished nations. You can buy an “at-cost”
bike helmet for your child and have it fitted at the pediatrics
office.
And for new parents, the resources are vast. There’s
lactation support and a free car seat for those giving birth
at Gifford, infant CPR, classes on positive parenting and
the New Parents Group, which meets weekly. The group
involves new parents and their babies. Led by Nancy
Clark, a nurse, lactation consultant and certified childbirth
educator, the group members receive loads of information
on topics ranging from diapering to development to infant
massage.
“It’s like motherly advice, but it’s coming from an expert
source,” says New Parent Group participant Clare Barnard
of Wilder. “It’s also up-to-date information.”
There are snacks and baby playtime. Parents, who
may have already met in Gifford’s birthing classes or
innovative Centering group for prenatal care, find support
in shared experiences – meaning programs like these are
not only supporting community health, but also creating
communities.
Gifford’s Best Kept Secrets - 6 -
Annual Report 2010