Preventive Health Services Classes

Warren General Hospital has partnered with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield as it continues to expand its preventive health network to more community organizations and hospitals that offer Highmark’s programs and services.  Because unhealthy lifestyle behaviors contribute to chronic and costly diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, the preventive health strategy focuses on ways to increase access to lifestyle improvement programs so people cannot only manage disease, but prevent it in the first place. There is no fee or facility membership required for Highmark members to participate in these programs and a nominal fee for non-Highmark members who sign up. The Warren General Hospital health care professionals have been trained by Highmark’s exercise physiologists, registered dietitians and stress management experts.

Classes will be offered on a quarterly basis and include the following:

Eat Well for Life I and II Two lifestyle improvement programs promoting wellness and long-term weight management through balanced nutrition, cooking demonstrations, and other hands-on experiences. Cost:  FREE for Highmark participants, $60 for each four-week class for non-Highmark members.

Discover Relaxation Within I and II Two 4-week lifestyle improvement programs that help individuals identify everyday stressors and teach specific relaxation techniques to evoke relaxation and reduce and manage stress. Cost: FREE for Highmark participants, $50 for each four-week class for non-Highmark members.

Personal Nutrition Coaching  Classes By Appointment. A personalized program designed by a registered dietitian to address the needs of an individual seeking nutrition counseling relating to weight management, heart health or diabetes. Cost: Free for Highmark participants. $50 for the initial one-hour consultation, $25 for each additional 30 minute consultation for non-Highmark members.

HOPE  (Highmark Osteoporosis Prevention and Education Program)

A program that focuses on healthy choices to prevent or manage osteoporosis. Cost:  FREE for Highmark participants, $90 for the six-week class for non-Highmark members.

Clear the Air  For the person thinking about quitting smoking, whether this is your first time or if you’ve quit before, this one session class can provide you with tools and information to get prepared, take action, stay motivated and quit for good. Cost: FREE for Highmark participants, $30 for non-highmark members.

For more information or to register, please call Allison Cook, Program Coordinator, at 814-723-4973, ext. 1701 or e-mail her at callison@wgh.org. For information on Medical Nutrition Therapy, or Diabetes Education Classes, please click here!

Dare to Care

The Dare to C.A.R.E. program is a highly respected community based vascular screening program. Attended by thousands, it is a comprehensive program of screening for vascular disease and thanks to the on-going support of the DeFrees Family Foundation it’s free. The examination is a non-invasive ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries in the neck, the aorta in the abdomen, and an evaluation of the circulation in your legs. This program was created by John Martin, MD to fill what he believes is a need in health care. Dr. Martin grew up in Warren, and wanted to expand this program to his hometown. According to Dr. Martin, the need consisted of finding a method for early detection testing of vascular disease that would include physician-patient interface and an education program to increase public awareness of vascular disease. The possibilities to make a difference in preventing stroke, aneurysm rupture, renal failure and limb loss make this program very rewarding.

The Problem:

  • Cardiovascular disease is by far the number one health problem in this country.
  • More than half of Americans will die from complications of the atherosclerotic disease process that is at the root of cardiovascular disease and millions more will suffer from debilitating complications that rob the elderly of a meaningful quality of life.
  • Unfortunately, the majority of patients with this disease are unaware of their problem until severe complications or death occurs.
  • The related problems of carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, renal artery disease and peripheral arterial disease are not only morbid conditions in their own right, but substantial indicators that atherosclerosis has advanced and dramatic steps should be taken if death or disability is to be avoided from cardiovascular disease.

    • Consequences:

  • Carotid artery disease accounts for over 300,000 strokes a year.
  • Over 2.3 million Americans have abdominal aortic aneurysms, a condition that is 90% fatal when rupture occurs.
  • Five million Americans have significant vascular disease in the arteries to the kidneys, which leads to severe high blood pressure and kidney failure.
  • Over 10-12 million Americans suffer with peripheral vascular disease.

    • Countless studies reveal the true nature of our current inability to detect these conditions at early stages of disease. For example, the PARTNERS study on peripheral arterial disease revealed that a staggering 29% of patients between 50 and 69 years of age with a history of diabetes or smoking had peripheral arterial disease, and less than half of these patients’ physicians were aware they had this problem. Identifying this particular disease at an early stage is critical as over 30% of these patients will die within the next five years of cardiovascular events, a mortality rate far greater than breast cancer. With early detection, aggressive risk factor modification, lifestyle changes and drug therapy, we can reduce these morbid statistics and can dramatically improve the longevity and quality of life of our population.

    A Solution:

    Early detection and education are the keys to impacting vascular disease. In response to what most experts agree is a dramatic shortfall of public and physician awareness regarding vascular disease and our current failure at early detection, the Dare to C.A.R.E. Program (DTC) was created in 2000. Based in Annapolis, Maryland, this program focuses on public and physician education regarding risk factors, treatment of vascular disease and, through the use of free ultrasound examinations, early detection of:

  • Carotid Artery Disease
  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
  • Renal Artery Stenosis
  • Extremity Artery Stenosis

    • Over the years, this project has evolved, through the hard work of many, to be one of the premier early detection programs in the country. By increasing awareness of cardiovascular disease through lectures and open discussion, detecting life-threatening conditions through non-invasive ultrasound and providing goodwill to the community at large, we are meeting the challenge of changing the lives of the people in our community.

    The lecture series in Warren is presented each quarter, typically in January, April, June and September. The program consists of a series of short lectures provided by physicians and health care professionals and focuses on identifying risk factors, life style consideration, and dietary choices to reduce the risks. Dr. David DiMarco, Vascular Surgeon, Dr. Lee Denlinger, Internal Medicine physician, Agnes McKenna, RD, registered dietitian and Joanne Sorensen, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, all on staff at Warren General Hospital, provide the education portion of the program. Upon completion of the education and awareness, participants are then scheduled for lab work, followed by the ultrasound screening and a personal consultation with a physician, Dr. Monica Juszczyk, Internal Medicine Physician, to personally review the medical test results.

    The schedule for 2010 is as follows:

    April 5

    June 7

    September 7

    All lectures are held at the Holiday Inn of Warren, located on Ludlow Street. Registration begins at 6:30 pm and lectures begin promptly at 7:00 pm. The program lasts about an hour and a half.

    Reservations are required and can be made by calling (814) 723-4973, ext. 2065, or by emailing Nancy Bean at bnancy@wgh.org.


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