June 6, 2007, Lakewood – The Lakewood Hospital Diabetes Education Program, with affiliated outpatient education programs at Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals, was once again awarded the prestigious American Diabetes Association (ADA) Education Recognition Certificate for a quality diabetes self-management education program.

The programs at Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals were recognized as additional sites under the umbrella of the Lakewood Hospital Diabetes Education Program. Lakewood, Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals, all Cleveland Clinic hospitals, collaborated together to receive this Recognition. Lakewood Hospital first received ADA Recognition for its Diabetes Education Program in 1989. Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals were first certified as additional sites under Lakewood’s program in 2003. Through this recognition, the ADA believes the hospitals’ Diabetes Education Program offers high-quality diabetes self-management education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment. The ADA’s Recognition Certificate assures that educational programs meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education Programs. Programs applying for Recognition voluntarily submit to a rigorous review process by experts in the field of diabetes who evaluate each program on its ability to provide patients with a comprehensive individualized education program. Programs that achieve recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management. “By collaborating together to achieve this prestigious recognition, Lakewood, Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals are able to provide the highest level of diabetes education to our west side communities,” says Fred DeGrandis, president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic regional hospitals. “I’d like to congratulate all of our diabetes educators for the exceptional care they provide. This rigorous process gives professionals a national standard by which to measure the quality of the services they provide. It also assures patients that they will receive high quality care."

Elaine Harper, RN, BSN, CDE, coordinator of the Outpatient Diabetes Education Program for the Cleveland Clinic west side hospitals, led the ADA Recognition process with assistance from Marty Bakoss, APRN, BC, director of SeniorCare Services at Lakewood Hospital. Harper also worked collaboratively with Mary Ellen Grady, RN, MSN, Outpatient Diabetes Education Program coordinator at Fairview Hospital; and Rosalinde Witkowski, RN, CDE, Outpatient Diabetes Education coordinator and Community Outreach manager at Lutheran Hospital, to achieve Recognition for the three hospitals. Education Recognition status is verified by an official certificate from the ADA and is awarded for three years.

According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 20.8 million people or 7 percent of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 6.2 million people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day approximately 4,110 people are diagnosed with diabetes. Many will first learn that they have diabetes when they are treated for one of its life-threatening complications – heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve disease and amputation. About 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years or older in 2005. Diabetes contributed to 224,092 deaths in 2002. Since 1987 the death rate due to diabetes has increased by 45 percent, while the death rates due to heart disease, stroke, and cancer have declined.According to the ADA, there's something stronger than America's fastest growing disease: The people who are doing something about it.

Cleveland Clinic regional hospitals are the proud sponsor of the 2007 Step Out to Fight Diabetes walk, formerly America's Walk for Diabetes. Lakewood Hospital President Jack Gustin is the chairperson for this year’s walk. “This walk is about changing the face of diabetes in our communities -- by raising funds to help find a cure and by walking a few miles to bring a greater awareness in the area to this devastating disease,” says Gustin. “Because I feel so passionate about diabetes education, research and prevention, I have eagerly volunteered to chair Step Out to Fight Diabetes.” Gustin goes on to say, “Our diabetes education programs are an integral part in helping those with diabetes control the disease instead of allowing the disease control them. In an effort to bring more awareness about diabetes and to raise funds to find a cure once and for all, I encourage the entire Cleveland area to join the Step Out to Fight Diabetes team and walk on October 6.” To join a team, visit the ADA’s Web site at www.diabetes.org/walk

Lakewood Hospital will take expert diabetes care to the next level with the opening of a new Diabetes Center in August. Lakewood Hospital will be the only hospital in the westshore community to offer comprehensive diabetes care by combining clinical and educational components in one convenient location. “Diabetes is exceedingly prevalent in our area and we continually strive to provide expert care and education. Our west side communities should feel confident they are receiving the best diabetes education possible at Lakewood, Fairview and Lutheran Hospitals,” says DeGrandis.For more information about Outpatient Diabetes Education at Lakewood Hospital, call 216.529.5300, at Fairview Hospital call 216-476-4077, and at Lutheran Hospital call 216-363-2330.