For Immediate Release

April 30, 2007

Diabetes Program at Mercy Memorial Offers e-Health Communication

Ardmore — Although rocket scientists launched the concept of telehealth, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to benefit from it.

Telehealth, also referred to as telemedicine or e-health, is an umbrella term for the delivery of health-related services via technology. An outgrowth of America’s space program, telehealth was pioneered by NASA in order to monitor the health status of astronauts in space.

And while the modern applications of telehealth are numerous, Mercy Memorial Health Center in Ardmore is using technology to improve the healthcare of diabetics in southern Oklahoma by monitoring their blood sugars by fax, phone, or e-mail.

The process begins with a physician’s referral to the diabetic education program at Mercy Memorial Hospital.

“Every patient involved in the program appreciates it,” said Laura Dooley, RN, BSN, CDE (certified diabetic educator). “We serve a rural population, and with the price of gas, driving into Ardmore can get expensive.”

Most of the patients prefer e-mail to send their blood sugars -- and any questions they might have – to be reviewed. Cookie Smith, a patient with type-2 diabetes, was referred to the program by Dr. Tom McCulloh.

“Laura always answers my questions the same day,” Smith said. “I don’t worry because she lets me know if something is normal or if I should see my doctor.”

Diabetes is classified as type-1 or type-2. Type-2 diabetes is usually managed by a combination of diet, exercise, and medication in pill form, while type-1 diabetes is managed by diet, exercise and insulin injections. However, diabetes can also be gestational, which means it occurs during pregnancy.

Danielle Dry is a patient who experienced gestational diabetes. Explaining that the majority of her pregnancy was during the summer, she said the intense heat made her sick. So the option of e-mailing her blood sugars for evaluation was not only convenient, it prevented her from heat-induced illness.

As a type-1 diabetic and a certified diabetic educator, Dooley said helping patients manage their diabetes is a two-way street.

“I have to hold myself accountable,” she said. “I can’t say, ‘Do as I say,’ and not do it myself.”

And when problematic situations occur, Smith said the fact that Dooley is also diabetic gives her confidence. “I feel like Laura can relate to me,” she said. “She’s made me feel calmer.”

Emotional support is valuable, but so is knowledge.

“She explains how everything works together,” Smith said. “If I get a stomach virus or a fever, she’s helped me know if I should take my medicine and what to eat -- or if I should see Dr. McCulloh.”

Patients initially referred to the diabetic education program receive instruction in 10 self-management topics such as exercise, foot care, and actions to take when ill. A dietician also provides diet instruction, which Dooley said is much easier to follow using the more modern method of counting carbohydrates, as opposed to the older system that involved diabetic “exchanges.”

Smith said the effect that exercise makes on controlling her diabetes has been very enlightening.

“Laura had me check my blood sugar before exercise and after,” she said. “When I saw what a huge difference exercise makes, it made me want to stick with the program.”

After a patient’s diabetes is stabilized, blood sugars are usually e-mailed in on a weekly basis. However, technology is always advancing, and Dooley said some of the newer blood-sugar monitoring devices can download information directly from the patient’s meter into their computer. The patient can then e-mail the data without typing individual entries with dates, times and blood sugar values.

While participants in the program emphasized the convenience and verbalized appreciation for the service, Dooley said she wants citizens in southern Oklahoma to know that diabetic education can have a major impact on their quality of life.

“People who’ve had diabetes for a number of years aren’t always aware of the health benefits of diabetic education,” she said.

If patients are uninsured or have financial limitations, Dooley said referrals from the Good Shepherd Clinic, a healthcare delivery program offered by Mercy Memorial Health Center, will receive diabetic education free of charge.

“Preventing complications saves money in the long run,” she said.

Describing Dooley as a “jewel,” Smith said, “I don’t know when she takes a vacation, but she’s always there for me, and she’s helped me so much.”

Mercy Memorial Health Center is a member of Mercy Health System of Oklahoma and the Sisters of Mercy Health System.