ROCHESTER—
Frisbie Memorial Hospital recently announced that Community Educator Rachel Eichenbaum, RN, as a recipient of this year’s Better Choices, Better Health Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Champion Award. The New Hampshire Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Network presents the award to Better Choices Better Health Leaders and/or Master Trainers who have demonstrated leadership and have acted as a motivating force to engage individuals and organizations.
Eichenbaum, who joined Frisbie Memorial in December 2011, has been instrumental in successfully launching the hospital’s Better Choices Better Health Chronic Disease Self-Management program (CDSMP). The CDSMP is a six-week class designed to help those living with or caring for a person with a chronic health condition, such as diabetes, asthma, back pain or any other persistent health condition.
Frisbie Memorial recently wrapped-up its first CDSMP class series, and has scheduled four additional series through June 2012. According to Jo~Ann Vatcher, RN, BSN, MS, director of education at Frisbie Memorial Hospital, “the evaluations from the [first class’] participants were ‘glowing.’” In fact one of the participants, who successfully completed the six-week class, expressed, “Frisbie Memorial Hospital has ‘hit one out of the park’ with the Better Choices, Better Health workshop!” and that “[The instructors] have a ‘wicked good’ sense of humor!”
According to the NH CDSMP Network, awards are bestowed upon those Program Leaders and/or Master Trainers who have assisted with the development and implementation of the Program, mobilized community workshops, mentored other leaders and/or facilitated practice change in their health care organization.
Eichenbaum has presented an overview of Frisbie Memorial’s Better Choices, Better Health Chronic Disease Self-Management Program to area community organizations and is scheduled to present a free Better Choices, Better Health Community Health Education Lecture on April 19 at Frisbie Memorial’s Community Education and Conference Center located on the hospital campus.
