Marianne Fazen, executive director of the DFWBGH, said the group is trying to engage the general public, local employers and physicians to stop the rising rates of a disease which already affects about 5.7 percent of the U.S. population.

“We have to engage the entire community,” Fazen said.

In the Fort Worth/Arlington area, the total number of diabetes patient claims increased from 45,178 in 2005 to 49,809 in 2006.

Across Texas, though, fewer patients utilize services such as blood glucose tests, serum cholesterol tests, urine glucose tests, urine microalbumin tests, ophthalmologic exams and A1c tests (which measures how much glucose has been in the blood over the past several months), than in the nationwide averages.

While the percentage of type 2 diabetes patients getting an A1c test was higher in Fort Worth/Arlington in 2006 than in 2005, up to 68.9 percent, it still lagged behind the national average of 73.9 percent and behind the Texas average of 70.1 percent.

Fazen said that another concern is the large number of uninsured in Texas, which means some of the cost of treating their diabetes is then shifted onto the commercially insured.

“We’re going to have to change our attitudes. There’s no way the economy can handle everybody having diabetes,” she said.

If diabetes is not treated or managed well, it can lead to a slew of other health problems, including vision loss, kidney failure and nerve damage. Fazen said more people need to be aware of the risks and not have a casual attitude about the disease, which can be life-threatening. Children are now developing type 2 diabetes at higher rates, and changing their habits before they turn into adults is key, she said, in addition to better educating adults.

“You ought to know, when you go to the doctor for that ear ache or sore throat or anything else, to ask, ‘Am I at risk for diabetes?’” she said.

Baby simulator donated to JPS

John Peter Smith Hospital received an anonymous donation of a wireless, fully-responsive simulated baby that can act like a real infant and even replicate life-threatening encounters for trainees.

The Newborn HAL was given as a hands-on education tool for the neonatal department. The simulated baby was accompanied by a touch-screen neonatal monitor and wireless computer control.

ER receives foundation grant

Arlington Memorial Hospital recently received a $1 million grant from the Amon G. Carter Foundation to go toward its $10 million fund raising effort to expand the Cravens Emergency Department. The emergency department sees more than 67,000 people per year, and the $23 million expansion will help serve an estimated 70 percent increase in patients over the next decade.

In total, nearly 400 people have pledged and given $2.8 million since the campaign began in October 2006.

Baylor Nurse wins DAISY award

Sharon Mahan, a registered nurse working in Women’s Services at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth, was recently announced as the September DAISY award winner in part for her work as the chairperson of the nurse advisory council and as a charge nurse in the postpartum and gynecology units.

The announcement came on Dec. 17. DAISY, which stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem, is a nationwide program that rewards excellence in nursing and is given monthly. Patients, visitors, employees and physicians can nominate candidates to the Foundation for the Elimination of Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem.

Huguley installs help hotline

Huguley Memorial Medical Center recently launched a new hotline for patients and their families inside the hospital to call if there is an immediate, unaddressed medical concern.

The program, called Condition H (the H stands for “help”), is intended to give patients and their families a resource to call if a medical change takes place and it’s not being addressed or if there is breakdown in how care is being given and/or confusion over what needs to be done for the patient.

Patients will be able to call the Condition H hotline on two floors starting this month, and it will be implemented hospital-wide in early 2008.

Harris recognized for certificates

For the fourth year in a row, Harris Methodist H-E-B Hospital received the Five-Star Hospital Award from the Bureau of Vital Statistics at the Texas Department of State Health Services, which recognized hospitals and birthing centers for excellence in registering birth certificates with the state.

Radiation program comes to area

The UT Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School is preparing to launch a program in radiation therapy, which will start offering classes for an estimated class of four to six students during the 2008-2009 school year. Students will be able to earn a bachelor’s degree and post-baccalaureate certificate in radiation therapy. This will be the first program of its kind in North Texas and one of only three in Texas.

The school also recently started offering a doctorate of physical therapy degree.

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