Hanes Certified as Diabetes Paraprofessional

Aarica Hanes, LPN, Barnesville Family Health Center, completed certification to become a Diabetes Paraprofessional Level 2. A Diabetes Paraprofessional makes managing diabetes easier. They work with patients to develop a plan to stay healthy and provide the tools and ongoing support to make that plan a regular part of a patient’s life.

Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in Ohio and nearly 1 million (11.1%) Ohio adults have been diagnosed with diabetes.

“This certification gives me the skills to help people who have diabetes or are at risk for developing diabetes. I can assist them to gain the knowledge and skills they need to modify their behavior and successfully self-manage their disease and its related conditions,” said Hanes. “I am pleased to be able to help people deal with the complex issues of diabetes on a day to day basis.”

The role of a Diabetes Paraprofessional is to increase access to diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) and achieve better patient care with their diabetes. The program supports informed decision making, self-care behaviors, problem solving along with active collaboration with the patients’ healthcare team to improve the patient’s clinical outcomes, health status and overall quality of life.

“It is extremely gratifying when our staff seek out additional training or advanced certifications in order to better meet the needs of our patients,” said Jeff Britton, CEO, Ohio Hills Health Services. “In the last 20 years, the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes has more than tripled. Diabetes is a very real problem for many of our patients.”

Because of the growing problem of diabetes, DSMES services are increasingly important. DSMES services include a health care team that will teach patients the skills they need to stay healthy.

To schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider to discuss your diabetes or risk of diabetes, please call Ohio Hills Health Services at 740-239-6447.