Seven Recognized for Improved Health
Through Education Prgrams

Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital is celebrating Health Care Education Week, December 5-11, to raise awareness of education’s import role as a part of comprehensive health care. To kick off the celebration, the Hospital is recognizing seven individuals who improved their health through hard work, commitment and using the Hospital’s education services.

John Curlett of Kennedyville was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago and began taking oral diabetes medication. He and his wife met with the Hospital’s dietician for dietary counseling early in 1997; since then, Curlett has lost one hundred pounds, reduced his blood sugar level to within normal limits and no longer requires oral medication. Last winter the couple attended the Hospital’s "Living With Diabetes" class, to learn more about managing the disease. He continues to improve his health with positive lifestyle changes.

After suffering a heart attack and requiring bypass surgery William Kirwan developed complications and spent several weeks recuperating in a nursing home. Following discharge, he entered the Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program with the goals of re-obtaining his driver’s license and returning to an independent life. During five months of rehabilitation he gained needed weight, increased exercise duration and reduced his blood sugar level. Kirwan, a resident of Chestertown, attends the monthly Healthy Hearts Support Group and has received counseling from the dietician. His progress has been very good; he now has his driver’s license, rarely uses a cane, exercises three times a week and has a much improved outlook on life. It has been a struggle, but he has overcome many obstacles.

Kennedyville resident Sara Gepp is a diabetic who required oral diabetes medication. After working with the Hospital’s dietician on weight management, she has lost thirty-five pounds and her blood sugar has been reduced to within normal limits. She no longer needs oral medication. To learn to manage her disease and weight, she attended the six-week Cardiovascular Weight Management Class and the grocery shopping tour at a local store. Mrs. Gepp is a good example of what an adult-onset diabetic can do through education to learn and practice healthy eating and exercise habits and other lifestyle changes.

In December 1998 Maxwell Bramble from Still Pond was diagnosed with diabetes and began taking oral medication. He and his wife immediately began diabetes and dietary counseling to manage this disease. In eight months, his blood sugar was within normal limits allowing discontinuation of oral medication; his improved diet helped him lose ten pounds. Bramble’s determination to control his diabetes is an excellent example of how education and lifestyle modification can improve health

Over the past three years, one tool Ella Chaires has used to manage chronic lung disease is attending the Hospital’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation program. She has met the challenge of this disease with her fierce determination to make the best of her life. She uses oxygen continuously and is able to exercise for an hour three times a week. This Rock Hall resident attends the Better Breathing and the Healthy Hearts support groups’ monthly meetings in her quest to manage this disease. Losing twenty pounds, increasing exercise tolerance and improving quality of life makes her an example of what determination can do.

Delphine Kelly, Chestertown, began to experience left hip pain that made walking difficult and occasionally impossible. She had a total hip replacement in March. After surgery she used the resources of the Physical Therapy Department as both an inpatient and outpatient to learn proper precautions and exercises to progress from a walker to a cane. Because she was eager to fully recover her mobility, she was very consistent with her prescribed exercise program. Kelly is using her restored mobility to resume her many volunteer activities. She believes that her positive outlook is extremely important and it can lift the spirits of those around her.

Howard Johnson, of Crumpton, suffered a heart attack in May and underwent a cardiac catheterization and stent placement. He then entered the Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program; over a period of three months, he has been to every scheduled session to exercise and learn about healthy eating habits. He and his wife met with the dietician to learn about a low-fat diet and his weight has begun to decrease. He applies what he learned in rehabilitation to his life at home by walking on the days he does not attend the rehab program and he closely follows the low-fat diet. Johnson has improved his health by utilizing newly acquired health education.

These seven individuals are excellent models for anyone wanting to make healthy life style changes for better health. To learn more about the Hospital’s many educational programs, call (410) 778-3300, extension 2320.

-BACK-