Partnering To Deliver Better Health Outcomes in Virginia

Submission Date: December 2013

State/Territory Submitted on the Behalf of: Virginia

States/Territories Involved: Virginia

Domain Addressed:

Community-Clinical Linkages

Public Health Issue:

• Evidence-based programs to improve health outcomes and reduce disability for people with chronic conditions such as diabetes include Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) and the Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP).
• Health departments can pool limited chronic disease program resources to build a sustainable infrastructure for delivery of these programs that teach people to take care of themselves and prevent the serious complications of diabetes.

Program Action:

• Virginia Department of Health efforts to promote self-management programs are coordinated cooperatively by the diabetes, arthritis and WISEWOMAN programs and the Department for the Aging through provision of leader-/master- training and cost-sharing.
• The state sponsors and provides resources for CDSMP trainings and the combined CDSMP/DSMP trainings for workshop leaders. Through the WISEWOMAN program they promote and support implementation of CDSMP and DSMP in WISEWOMAN service areas with the potential to reach up to 1,300 low-income women a year.
• Participants are recruited by local workshop providers, including community-based organizations and Area Agencies on Aging. Recruitment efforts include radio advertising, dissemination of flyers, and promotion in senior centers.  Collaboration with the Department of Medical Assistance Services is planned as an additional recruitment strategy.

Impact/Accomplishments:

• Virginia’s CDSMP and DSMP efforts have reached over 2,600 participants through 263 CDSMP and DSMP workshops over seven years.
• Evaluation of short-term changes in a subgroup of participants reveals evidence of expected improvement in health status and knowledge of managing their chronic condition by the end of the program, for example:
  • Decreased health-related mental stress
  • Reduced levels of pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath
  • More frequent use of cognitive techniques for coping with emotional and physical symptoms
  • More frequent use of mental relaxation techniques to manage their stress
  • Increased amount of aerobic and non-aerobic physical activity

Program Areas:

Public Health Practice

State Contact Information:

VA
Kathy Rocco
Virginia Department of Health
804-864-7756
kathy.rocco@vdh.virginia.gov

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