Successful prevention and management of diabetes often require efforts that go beyond traditional clinical care, particularly in underserved and socially disadvantaged populations. Bringing clinical services into the community setting is a best practice for addressing chronic disease.  This model of service is is evidence-based and offers promising strategies for intervening in early life, in the community, and at the nexus between the community and clinical settings.

A successful models requires dedicated expertise and support from clinical team members who work alongside social workers, such as a non-profit who have an expertise in evaluating social needs, connecting to resources, and following up to ensure successful community connection.  Hospitals, traditional medical clinics and independent physicians become the referral base to Core Health Partners (CHP) who specializes in bringing the model of service to community centers and communicate the results back to the referring entity. CHP takes the time to interfaces with the community center leadership and staff by serving on committees that are designed to best assure the community center/ non-profit staff has an understanding for the disease and the environment is socially welcoming. The YMCAs are a natural partner for CHP’s clinic to community model.   

Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires daily management and healthy lifestyle choices to maintain
normal blood glucose levels. The Diabetes Alliance Network has built an infrastructure that supports implementing the best and newest trends in caring for the disease and maintaining positive lifestyle changes. The structure of service created by the members of the Diabetes Alliance Network facilitates a clear communication line to the best in the field of diabetes education and research. The structure offer
the ability to communicate health and social needs between providers and community resources.

Through the Diabetes Alliance Network (DAN) created a single clinical provider model (Core Health Partners) so that the program has the ability to measure outcomes and make appropriate adjustments to the curriculum lesson or techniques utilized in delivering a high level of quality service in the area of diabetes management. Select national partners in the Diabetes Alliance assure the non-profit community center is ready and able to appropriately serve this patient population. The Core Health Partners medical practitioners participating in the model  focus their continued education on the newest and best methods of diabetes self management techniques and methods. This assures CHP is at the forefront of diabetes care.

The Diabetes Alliance Network and Core Health Partners recognize the rich history of the Y’s and their ability to make a difference with some of nation’s most pressing issues. Core Health Partners was created from leaders from within the Y moment.  We are excited to pilot a clinic to community diabetes program through the YMCA because we know it will not only make a positive impact to the individuals participating in the program as patients, it will improve their quality of life for their families and ultimately benefit the community.

The YMCA engages 9 million youth and 13 million adults each year in the U.S.  The Y aims to improve the nation’s health and well-being by providing programs and activities that promote wellness, reduce risk for disease and help others reclaim their health. The Y’s long-standing track record and on-the-ground presence necessary to address national health issues that benefit and community life, aligns with the Diabetes Alliance Network’s goal of providing a positive impact on diabetics participating in diabetes self-management and education. 

The Y is the perfect platform because of they are accessible to all people and they offer financial assistance to individuals and families who cannot afford membership. The programs offered at the YMCA and everything else the Y does are in service of making  communities better. 

Layering CHP’s  pilot projects with advanced community support from the National Wellness Institute assures; the physicians,  the YMCA staff, and the community at large are prepared for the clinic to community.

Core Health Partners was the brainchild of  former the YMCA employees who opened the nation’s first healthy living center (Clive, Iowa) and senior YMCA leadership who wanted to advance the Ys ability to bill medical insurance.  Our model of medical service differs from most across the country, as ours is built with intentional integration with the YMCA staff. Our model places the  importance on education and lifestyle change. CHP’s model is in collaboration with the Diabetes Alliance Network (DAN).  Through this partnership the community will have access to clinical medical experts help guide an advanced wellness program that is proven to grow membership, revenues and strengthen the community that the YMCA serves.  We are patient centered but we also understand the importance of continuing an education action plan for the YMCA staff, the caregivers, and the community.  The National Affiliates of Dan include the National Wellness Institute (NWI) and the University of Florida Diabetes Institute.  NWI represents the nation’s oldest accrediting agencies in the area of community wellness with strong experience in engaging statewide and national wellness projects. They will be joined by world renowned experts in the area of diabetes  from the University of Florida Diabetes Institute (UFDI).