Health Coach Program Graduates New Class

The Health Coach Program, spearheaded by Dr. Cheryl J. Dye, Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences and Dr. Deborah Willoughby, Professor in the School of Nursing at Clemson University, in collaboration with Oconee Medical Center Home Health Services Director, Ms. Freda Merck recently graduated another class of Health Coaches. These Health Coaches, after an intensive training and education program, will now work with discharged OMC Home Health Services patients who have been diagnosed with Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, or Congestive Heart Failure. With this latest group of graduates, there are now 43 Health Coaches who have been trained to serve residents of Oconee County.

The Health Coaches’ goal is to help the discharged Home Health Services patients learn to self-manage their chronic condition. Research indicates that better self-management means better health and allows the patients the ability to stay in their homes and communities so that they can “age in place”. The Health Coaches work with discharged patients who are 65 years of age or older, reside in Oconee County, and need additional help with learning how to self-manage their diabetes, cardiovascular disease or congestive heart failure

The Health Coach Program is funded through a Rural Health Outreach Initiative which is part of the Department of Health and Human Service’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The program implements “best practices” in chronic disease management through a university/community partnership formed to solve some of the issues related to helping older adults stay in their homes and communities as long as possible.  The success of the program is due to the impressive work of local community residents who have been trained as Health Coaches.  For further information about becoming a Health Coach, contact Dr. Deborah Willoughby at 864-656-1437.   » Institute for Engaged Aging

Front: (l to r) Deborah Johnson, Barbara Armstrong, Judi Harlow, Kristen Weinacker, Petti Allen, Miriam Lyles
Middle: Dr. Cheryl Dye, Barbara Horn, Sue Brown, Ellen Clark, Cindy Hylkema, LuAnna Little, Dr. Deborah Willoughby
Back: Lou Wood, Nancy Wilson, Peggy Barrett, Carolyn Farmer, Jerry Wempe