WINDBER — If people don’t get sick, how can the hospital make any money?
Finding answers to that question is at the heart of an initiative Windber Research Institute leaders are developing to address conditions such as diabetes.
“It’s a strategy to identify patients with chronic illness and direct them to programs that reduce or eliminate the risk of disease,” Chief Wellness Officer Dr. Matthew Masiello said at the institute.
While the state and nearby Conemaugh Health System are working out a chronic illness strategy based on limited preventive programs, Windber’s team is using the World Health Organization’s health promotion and disease prevention model, which starts with all patients completing a simple health survey, Masiello said.
“We can use that to monitor their health risk, follow the patient and refer them to programs,” Masiello said. “If you have the documentation and you are able to code for those health risks, that’s the tool the insurance companies and government needs to address the issues of diabetes and other chronic illness.”
Prevention is an important part of the WindberCare organization’s array of programs for chronic disease. Windber Medical Center offers treatment and support to control the disease, while the research institute has begun studying some risk factors at the molecular level.
“Prevention, treatment and research are three important components,” Masiello said. “We have them all here.”
Prevention starts young, Masiello said, citing KidShape, the Windber-led childhood obesity program proven to help promote healthy living and reduce disease. The elementary school program is funded by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, which has contracted with Windber to develop a new program for older children.
TeenShape will debut early next year for high school and junior high students referred by school nurses or doctors.
Highmark also is helping its adult members work on diabetes prevention through the hospital’s wellness program, which teaches at-risk patients how to change their lifestyle by eating better and exercising more. It is one of several classes Windber offers, diabetes educator Tina Friewald said.
Exercise programs at Windber HealthStyles, heart disease intervention through the Dean Ornish Program, and nutrition and disease management classes address different areas faced by those with diabetes.
“I think everyone who goes to the class gets some benefits,” she said.
On the research end, Windber Research Institute scientists are looking at genetic factors that contribute to successful weight loss. They are studying patients who receive lap band weight control surgery from Dr. Kim Marley.
“It has been shown that the treatment is very effective for treating diabetes,” researcher Darrell Ellsworth said.
Scientists are looking for cell markers in tissue and blood samples. The markers are microscopic characteristics common among patients with similar levels of success with weight loss.
“We are looking for gene expression profiles that correlate to reducing the risk factor, predicting which patients are likely to do better with that type of treatment,” Ellsworth said. “For people with trouble, is there a marker, or panel of markers, that tell us these people are going to have trouble losing weight?”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Nurse Barb Whitney puts out materials for a diabetes education class at Windber Medical Center. Randy Griffith
Discussion
Diabetes: Doctors aim to stop disease early
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
