McCready Diabetes Program Gets ADA Approval

The diabetes self-management education program at McCready Memorial Hospital in Crisfield has received the prestigious American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate – the ADA’s official sanction.

The credential signifies that the program offers high-quality education essential to an effective diabetes treatment. It also offers assurance that McCready’s educational program meets national standards for "Diabetes Self-Management Programs" developed by the association.

Education programs -- like McCready’s -- voluntarily apply for ADA recognition. The certificate is good through 2012 before the program’s application is reviewed again.

Association recognition means the diabetes program is staffed by knowledgeable health professionals who understand and adhere to the national standards. McCready’s program is led by diabetes nurse educator Sandra Sturgis, R.N.

“A seal of approval from the ADA is a hard-earned award that sets the McCready program far apart from other diabetes education programs because each participant gets individual goals tailored to his or her needs," Sturgis said. "There are no 'cookie cutter' teaching methods used in this program.”

Stugis started the diabetes education program at McCready with a $7,000 "community needs" grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. She also qualified for a supplemental grant from the Kota and Bina Chandrasekhara Fund administered by the Salisbury-based Community Foundation.

Any diabetic who wishes to participate in McCready’s diabetes self-management education course will need a physician’s order (prescription). Physicians can send the order to:

Sandra Sturgis, RN, BSN
Diabetes management services
c/o McCready Memorial Hospital
201 Hall Highway
Crisfield, MD 21817

Or -- the diabetic patient can leave a name and phone number and the physician’s name with Sturgis by calling (410) 968-3194. She will speak with the patient and the physician to secure the prescription.

Diabetes self-management courses are scheduled for Thursday afternoons in September and early October; for Tuesday mornings in December; for Saturday mornings in March and for Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in June.

Sandra Sturgis exhibits the American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Certificate that McCready’s new Diabetes Self Management education program recently earned. Sturgis established the program using seed money from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore. With her are, left to right; Carlos Mir, ADA's market manager on Delmarva, Community Foundation president Spicer Bell and ADA marketing intern Matthew Horst.