Atlantic Health System Diabetes Education Service Earns ADA Award

Atlantic Health System, an integrated health care delivery system, today announced it has been awarded Recognition from the American Diabetes Association for a quality diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) service. ADA believes that this service offers high-quality education that is an essential component of effective diabetes treatment. All Atlantic Health System education centers including, Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, Newton Medical Center, Chilton Medical Center, Hackettstown Medical Center, Goryeb Children’s Hospital and Atlantic Maternal Fetal Medicine are now accredited.

The Association’s Education Recognition Certificate assures that educational services meet the National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support. The DSMES Standards were developed and tested under the auspices of the National Diabetes Advisory Board in 1983 and were revised by the diabetes community in 1994, 2000, 2007, 2012, and 2017.

“This recognition not only validates the coordinated care our medical and clinical teams deliver daily, but assures our patients they are receiving high-quality service at each of our campuses,” said Jan Schwarz-Miller, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical and Academic Officer for Atlantic Health System.

DSMES services apply for Recognition voluntarily. Services that achieve Recognition status have a staff of knowledgeable health professionals who can provide participants with comprehensive information about diabetes management. Education Recognition status is verified by an official certificate from ADA and awarded for four years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2017 National Diabetes Statistic Report there are 30.3 million people or 9.4% of the population in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 23.1 million have been diagnosed, unfortunately, 7.2 million people are not aware that they have this disease. Each day more than 3,900 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, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve disease, and amputation. About 1.5 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 18 years or older in 2015. Diabetes continues to be the seventh leading cause of death in the US in 2015 as it contributed to 252,806 deaths.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading non-profit health organization supporting diabetes research, advocacy and information for health professionals, people with

diabetes and the public. Founded in 1940, the Association continues to support people affected by diabetes nationwide.

For more information on Recognized education services in your area or other American Diabetes Association programs, call the ADA office at 1.800. DIABETE (342-2383) or contact the ADA online at www.diabetes.org/erp