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Baptist Health Seeks Diabetes Patients For Program To Assess Use Of Technology In Improving Health

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – For the second year, Baptist Health Community Outreach has been awarded a grant from Verizon to conduct a year-long diabetes self-management program for the medically underserved in Pulaski County.

As part of the grant, Baptist Health is seeking volunteers for the innovative program designed to measure if technology can help individuals with diabetes increase their understanding of the disease and learn self-management techniques including exercising and nutrition.

What makes this program unique is that half of the participants will be provided free technology such as tablets and service, wireless glucometers, wireless blood pressure machines and video conferencing to help them self-manage their diabetes. The other half will receive a free glucometer, test strips, blood pressure machine, pedometer and walking log.

At the end of the year-long program, data from each group will be analyzed and compared to see if the technology-based group had better results than the group who had traditional means to monitor and improve their diabetes.

“Medically underserved Arkansans have limited resources and access to care, and this can result in poor health outcomes,” said Teresa Conner, Baptist Health Community Outreach director. “Our goal with this program is to help reduce complications of diabetes in addition to reducing risk factors like high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose by increasing the patient’s knowledge about their disease. The program will evaluate how the use of technology affects health outcomes.”

Individuals living in Pulaski County between the ages of 18 and 40 who have been diagnosed with diabetes, are on diabetes medication, or are required to monitor their blood sugar at home may be eligible for this free program. Please call 501-202-1540 for more information or to register.

About Baptist Health

With more than 175 points of access, including nine hospitals, Baptist Health is committed to delivering “All Our Best” in healthcare to Arkansans. For more information about Baptist Health Community Outreach, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST.