FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2015
AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE SUN SENTINEL
BB7
THE BAUGHTOM LINE New Broward Initiative To Reduce Diabetes and Congestive Heart Failure
By Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh, Ed.D.
Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh, Ed.D. President and CEO Urban League of Broward County A few weeks ago, the Urban League of Broward County received great news: we are the recipient of a $350,000 Humana Communities Benefit charitable grant funded by the Humana Foundation to help prevent the spread of diabetes and reduce the cases of congestive heart failure in our community. These funds are much needed locally to tackle these serious health issues.
By Richard McCulloch
The diabetes rate in Broward County is of particular concern – it’s an astonishing 210 percent higher than the rest of our nation. Among high school students in our county, the obesity rate is close to 8 percent, with nearly 30 percent watching television three or more hours a day on an average school day, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Humana Foundation has given us a huge opportunity to address these health care challenges. We’ll use the grant to launch multiple programs to educate residents diagnosed with or at-risk for diabetes, as well as their caregivers, on how to improve their quality of life. Specifically, the Urban League of Broward County will use the six-week, evidence-based Stanford Medicine Chronic Self-Management curriculum to educate residents on managing diabetes, healthy eating, reading food labels, stress management, positive thinking, exercise, medication usage, depression management and working with health care professionals. In addition, we’ll develop a mobile-friendly marketing campaign to provide easy access to diabetes information and recruit volunteer health workers to teach new
techniques and skills to community members. This initiative will be part of our “Breaking the Cycle” of poverty programs that uplift more than 7,000 people every year. We’ve been on the front lines of improving our community’s health for years. That includes focusing on the findings in the seminal issue of State of Black Broward: Health Report (which was supported by Sunshine Health): chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke and respiratory illnesses affect the minority community at significantly higher rates than other populations. We operate nearly 20 healthcarerelated programs across Broward County, including prevention and intervention education about chronic diseases. One of our most successful programs -- Project TOTTS (Together Our Tots Thrive & Survive) -- works in collaboration with Broward Healthy Start to provide comprehensive prenatal and infant educational empowerment programs. The program’s activities include community outreach, nutrition seminars and workshops, childbirth education, home visiting and parenting education and support.
The Urban League of Broward County was selected for the Humana Communities Benefit grant because of our transformative, ongoing work in preventing diabetes and congestive heart failure. For many of our healthcare programs, public education is a critical component of improving the well-being of our community. And for this grant, education will be an important facet as well. We consider our agency a true catalyst for change, and we’re eager to demonstrate how, through this new initiative, we’ll empower and excite individuals to improve their health by making better lifestyle choices. Our entire community should join the Urban League of Broward County in thanking the Humana Foundation for supporting this vital healthcare initiative. The Baughtom Line is this: Our community has a skyrocketing rate of diabetes and congestive heart failure cases. A new initiative funded by Humana Foundation will address these problems through multiple programs to educate residents diagnosed with these illnesses and conditions on how to improve their quality of life.
Your Career in Health Care is Calling… Are you Listening?
When I first announced that I would be cutting ties with my Northeast roots to relocate to South Florida, one of the phrases that I heard the most was “So, you’re going to God’s waiting room”. This facetious reference to the large number of elderly citizens who have chosen to spend their twilight years in the Sunshine State got me thinking: “The only thing hotter than the weather down there may be health care careers.” As a Higher Education veteran, I tend to relate academic pursuits to employment destinations. Understanding the work climate and labor needs of a market is an
essential part of responsible planning for Higher Ed program offerings and effective student advising. When it comes to Florida, however, you don’t have to reference government statistics or actuary studies to draw a logical conclusion: Health care careers are viable, and the need is undeniable. According to the Florida Department of Health in their April 2015 press release: High Demand for Health Care Jobs in Florida, “In Florida, health care jobs are in high demand, according to the 2014–2015 Statewide Demand Occupation List—a report released by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO).” The same release further evidences a historic trend in the growth of health care career opportunities; “The population of licensed health care practitioners in Florida has increased by 15.9 percent since 2010, while the total resident population in Florida increased by only 5.5 percent. Because of this growing demand for health care jobs, MQA (Florida Department of Health's Division of Medical Quality Assurance) continues to make a concerted
effort to reduce regulations and barriers to licensure that restrict opportunity for health care professionals.” The facts speak for themselves; and as “traditional learners” exiting high school and “non-traditional learners” balancing work and family explore education options, longer term academic pursuits to become doctors or registered nurses are not the only medical pathways demonstrating growth. In fact, the Florida Department of Health notes that within the State’s Top 50 jobs in highest demand, other occupations that rank well are: Dental Assistants (#33), Massage Therapists (#47), EMT/ Paramedics (#50). But wait…there’s more! The continued growth of health care professions is not just a Florida phenomenon, it is a national and global reality based on increased life expectancy. When Monster.com published its February 2015 article, 12 Fastest Growing Jobs in Healthcare the link between people living longer and the need for health care professionals was made crystal clear; “The aging population means increasing numbers of people in older age
groups, who are living longer and have increasing healthcare needs. As a result, the demand for healthcare will increase with a beneficial impact for people in the healthcare industries.” The article further explains; “Employment in home healthcare and residential care should increase rapidly as life expectancies rise and as aging children rely more on long-term care facilities.” From pediatrics to geriatrics, the demand is there. If you are seeking your first career opportunity or reconsidering your current one, health care should be on the top of your list. With such a large umbrella of job descriptions, the options in the health care field offer something for almost everyone. Do your research, get the education and training that you need, and then commit to a profession that cares - God’s waiting room is getting crowded. Richard McCulloch is the VP of Client Services & Business Development for Tribeca Marketing Group. For more information, please contact him at rm@tribecamarketinggroup.com