History

 

The Center for Nutrition and Diabetes Management (CNDM) was established in 2002 with Carolyn Swithers, RN, BSN, CDE as director and Marc Sandberg, MD, FACP, CDE as medical director.

 

Our beginnings go back to 1972 with a grant from UMDNJ's Office of Consumer Education. Two years later the hospital's Department of Patient and Community Health Education was created to help patients and their families learn about the causes and treatment of their health problems. The goal was to help people manage their illness so they were better able to take care of themselves and prevent recurrence of the illness. The first program developed was cardiac care; 12 more programs were soon developed, including the diabetes education program. These programs proved to be a valuable resource to doctors and nurses. The office was located off the main lobby where the current Admitting Department is located.

Over thirty years ago, Hunterdon Medical Center held the unique distinction of being one of only a few hospitals nationwide that had a department of nurse educators dedicated to educating patients and families about their health problems; early on, HMC recognized the importance of achieving wellness through patient education.The Administration and Board of Trustees were committed to supporting all the services we provided to improve the health of the community.

Free monthly community education/support groups were well attended by children and adults. Educators met daily with patients and families in the hospital. In 1978 the staff consisted of four RN patient educators, a coordinator and a secretary; two of the RNs are still working with us in the DHC! We were recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in patient education and consulted with many hospitals to help them develop patient education services.

In 1982 we were the recipients of the American Hospital Association First National Patient Education Hospital Leaders Program Award. In 1988 we were one of the Top Ten winners of the Recognition of Excellence in Consumer Education Award by the FDA. We were also one of the first hospitals in New Jersey to establish a Community Safe Syringe Program. Many hospitals have asked our assistance to help establish such a program in their communities.

As registered nurses at the bedside assumed more teaching responsibilities, the department evolved into focusing only on diabetes management. We recognized that diabetes is one health problem that can be managed well by a patient if he/she has the knowledge and motivation to do so. Around 1990 the office was renamed the Health Education Department, with a concentration on diabetes management in the hospital and community. Medical Nutrition Therapy was added to the services, and the staff expanded to include registered nutritionists who would counsel outpatients and families on nutrition and related issues. Programs included inpatients and outpatients with type 1 and 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and insulin pump therapy.

A nutritionist and diabetes educator were established one day a week at Phillips-Barber and Delaware Valley Family Health Centers so access to education would be easier for people in the Lambertville and Frenchtown areas. The department moved from the Lobby area to the 4th floor North wing where the inpatient diabetes educator office is currently located.

Community outreach expanded to include a Student with Diabetes program for the schools, group home and nursing home staff training, free evening diabetes education series, pump support group, Diabetes Nurse Champions in the physician offices, employee health fairs, Raritan Day and community education programs. Yearly since 1995, the staff has volunteered their time to raise over $60,000 for diabetes education and research with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International annual walk.

Every three years starting in 1992, the department received national recognition from the American Diabetes Association for meeting national standards for diabetes education.

Recognizing that improving diabetes management needed the creation of a multidisciplinary collaborative, the staff began to reach out to other healthcare providers in the hospital community, former patients, Hunterdon Healthcare Partners, the American Diabetes Association, the Garden State Association of Diabetes Educators, Hunterdon County Department of Health, and the NJ Department of Human Services. Through numerous initiatives, policies and continuing education programs for nurses and physicians, one can see a strong growing interest in improving diabetes management that remains vibrant to this day.

Our name was changed to the Center for Nutrition and Diabetes Management in 2007 when the hospital demonstrated its continued commitment to patient education by providing a beautiful education center at the Wescott Medical Arts Center next to HMC. We are constantly growing and expanding our services. Because of the epidemic of childhood and adult obesity, children's weight management programs (ShapeDown and Weigh to Go) and LightenUp Hunterdon for adults were implemented. A grant funded position for a bilingual Hispanic nutritionist was added to reach out to the growing Hispanic community. We developed programs to improve choices in school vending machines, school cafeteria menus and area restaurants. A pre-diabetes education program was created to facilitate the early identification of people at risk for developing diabetes.

The Center for Nutrition and Diabetes Management responds to the nutritional and diabetes needs of the community. Three of the diabetes educators have been recognized as Diabetes Educator of the Year (2002, 2003, 2005) by the Garden State Association of Diabetes Educators. Our staff of caring and talented professionals are more committed than ever to improve the health of the diabetes community through education, support and policy change. We are here to serve you.