EPICC is short for Healthy Living through Environment, Policy and Improved Clinical Care. We refer to it as ‘Healthy Living’. We understand that there are many ways to solve a problem, and none of these issues only have one solution. We accomplish our goals in partnership with cities, health systems, national organizations, schools and other local communities to address these important health concerns.
Adults/Families (Diabetes)
The Weber-Morgan Health Department Healthy Living Program focuses on lowering the rate of diabetes and heart disease in our community through healthy food access, food and beverage standards, access to physical activity, pedestrian and active transportation development and offering evidence-based lifestyle change programs through community partners.
Diabetes Prevention Classes Offered in Ogden
Nearly 619,000 adults in Utah have prediabetes, and 9 out of 10 people with prediabetes don’t know they have it. If you fall into one of these categories, you can do something about it by participating in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP), a class offered in the Ogden area by Intermountain Healthcare. Participants learn easy evidence-based lifestyle changes such as eating healthier, including physical activity into their daily lives, and improving problem-solving and coping skills. This program helps people with prediabetes and/or at risk for Type 2 diabetes make achievable and realistic lifestyle changes and cut their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 58 percent. For more information, or to enroll in the NDPP, please visit intermountainhealthcare.org/101.
Diabetes Self-Management Education
Diabetes is a serious disease with potentially life-threatening consequences. Proper nutrition, physical activity, regular visits to your doctor, and medication can help you control your blood sugar level. If you have just been told you have diabetes; your treatment plan has changed; you are not meeting your diabetes targets, or are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, you will benefit by taking a self-management education class.
Diabetes education can help you learn to monitor blood sugar levels correctly, avoid highs and lows, and plan your meals and snacks.
For more information, contact any of our Healthy Living (EPICC) Educators.
Diabetes Self-Management Education Providers
Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) is the cornerstone of care for all individuals with diabetes who want to achieve successful health outcomes and avoid complications. The ten-week program is conducted in health care settings, such as physicians’ offices and clinics, pharmacies and hospital outpatient settings.
Below is a list of certified DSME providers in Weber & Morgan Counties:
IHC Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic
4403 Harrison Boulevard, #3630
Ogden, Utah
801-387-7900
McKay-Dee Hospital Outpatient Diabetes Education
4401 Harrison Boulevard
Ogden, Utah
801-387-7520
Healthcare Providers
The Weber-Morgan Health Department strives to work with the healthcare community to foster opportunities to support processes that facilitate improvements in chronic disease management. Focusing specifically on the prevention of hypertension and diabetes, we strive to connect clinics and providers to appropriate resources while also providing mini-grants to those who are eligible.
The Utah Million Hearts Coalition is part of the national Million Hearts initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Here in Utah, we strive to bring together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke.
In order to facilitate this process, we’ve been assessing healthcare practices around blood pressure measurement and control through our Million Hearts Assessment. Please contact us about the results.
Pharmacists
Pharmacists play an ever increasingly important role in the management and care of patients with chronic disease. Our goal is to increase engagement of community pharmacists in the provision of medication self-management for adults with high blood pressure. In order to address this goal, we support the Medication Synchronization (med sync) program. This program allows patients to sync their medication(s) so that it can be picked up all at once during the month.
The following are findings from the 2014 National Adherence Survey: The Promise and Prospects of Medication Synchronization*. Med sync patients are 10 percent more likely to be highly satisfied with their pharmacy, and 83 percent of those in a med sync program find it helpful in managing their prescriptions. However, 3 in 4 who have trouble managing RX’s are not enrolled in a program, and 40 percent are unaware of med sync programs. After an explanation of med sync, 50 percent of individuals became interested in med sync. Medication non-adherence costs Americans $290 billion dollars annually – 74 percent said med sync is helpful in improving their overall adherence.
Programs and organizations that may be of interest to you are: Simplify My Meds by NCPA or Align My Refills by APhA. Both NCPA and AMA (STEPS Forward) provide a synchronization module and/or a revenue and cost-savings calculation generator.
*Please contact us for funding opportunities that are available.
Daycare Centers
The TOP Star--Teaching Obesity Prevention in Early Child Care -- program was developed by the Utah Department of Health, local health departments and other partners to help prevent obesity among children in childcare. The goal of TOP Star is to help childcare providers improve nutrition and physical activity environments.
TOP Star endorsement helps childcare providers promote and market their achievements in physical activity and nutrition to parents and can be noted on the Care About Childcare website . Endorsement is valid for three years. After three years, endorsed childcare providers are encouraged to reapply for endorsement which invloves completing a new self-assessment (This downloadable form has instructions and can be filled out and printed). Once the form is filled out, please send the form to Liz Elsmore either by email or walk in to drop it off. You can also contact Liz by phone at 801-399-7284 for any questions.
You can find the list of approved facilities on the Utah Department of Health website.
Schools (K-12)
Weber-Morgan Health Department is committed to promoting nutrition and physical activity among kids and adolescents. According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans , children are eating too many calories and not enough nutrients. One study reports around 32 percent of children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 are overweight/obese*. The Guidelines state children should eat more whole grains, vegetables and fruits; drink less sugar-sweetened drinks and limit consumption of 100 percent fruit juice. Our health department supports these efforts by helping school wellness committees develop policies that help make nutritious foods available.
Physical activity is another focus because it has many benefits . The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans state children should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. To reach this goal, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed a framework called the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program , or CSPAP. This framework has five parts:
- Quality physical education
- Physical activity before and after school
- Physical activity during school
- Staff involvement
- Family and community engagement
The Utah Department of Health offers a free training on CSPAP, including how to use and evaluate it. Contact Travis Olsen or Sarah Roundy for more information.