Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions is a six-week, self-management workshop based on the PATH (Personal Action Toward Health) Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, which was developed and tested by Stanford University. The workshop meets for 2 ½ hours per week for 6 weeks. The workshop is not disease-specific and is designed to help participants build confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.
The Living a Healthy Life with a Chronic Condition workshop focuses on self-care, learning new coping strategies for dealing with frustration, fatigue, depression and pain, and sharing experiences with other group members. It doesn’t replace or conflict with existing programs of treatment; it enhances them and increases their effectiveness.
The workshops are designed to introduce skills needed for day-to-day management of chronic disease, with tips for goal setting, problem solving and communicating with family and health care professionals. Participants report improved symptom management and the adoption of a healthier lifestyle.
PATH Chronic Disease Self-Management Programs
Medical Network One was among the first independent health organizations in Michigan to be trained in and to offer the PATH Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. For two decades, the PATH Patient Education Research Center developed, tested, and evaluated self-management programs for people with chronic health problems. That PATH self management programs are designed to help people gain self-confidence in their ability to control their symptoms and how their health problems affect their lives. They are generally 6 week workshops, meeting once a week for two hours. The meetings are highly interactive, focusing on building skills, sharing experiences and support.*
Medical Network One offers two programs following the PATH Model:
Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions
Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions is a six-week, self-management workshop based on the PATH Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, which was developed and tested by Stanford University. The workshop meets for 2 ½ hours per week for 6 weeks. The workshop is not disease-specific and is designed to help participants build confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.
The Living a Healthy Life with a Chronic Condition workshop focuses on self-care, learning new coping strategies for dealing with frustration, fatigue, depression and pain, and sharing experiences with other group members. It doesn’t replace or conflict with existing programs of treatment; it enhances them and increases their effectiveness.
The workshops are designed to introduce skills needed for day-to-day management of chronic disease, with tips for goal setting, problem solving and communicating with family and health care professionals. Participants report improved symptom management and the adoption of a healthier lifestyle. *According to information obtained at http://patienteducation.stanford.edu.
If you would like a copy of the brochure, click here.
NEW! The Diabetes Self-Management Workshop
The Diabetes Self-Management workshop focuses on Type 2 diabetes and is offered for 2½ hours, once a week, for six weeks. It is conveniently held in community settings such as churches, community centers, libraries and medical centers.
People with Type 2 diabetes attend the program in groups of 12-16. Loved ones of the participant are welcome to attend as well. Workshops are facilitated by two presenters trained in the Stanford approach and one or both presenters have diabetes.
Subjects covered in the diabetes self-management workshop include:
1) Techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes, which may include fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration
2) Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance
3) Healthy eating
4) Appropriate use of medication
5) Working more effectively with health care providers
Participants make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter in developing and carrying out their self-management program. Physicians and other health professionals both at Stanford and in the community have reviewed all materials in the course.
Each participant in the workshop receives a copy of the companion book, Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, an audio relaxation tape, and an audio exercise tape.
Why does self-management training work?
It is the self-management training process and teaching approach that make the programs effective. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants' confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.
It is important to note that self-management programs do not replace or conflict with existing programs and treatments. No treatment plan is altered. For medical questions, participants are referred to their physicians. If the content of the course conflicts with instructions they receive elsewhere, participants are advised to follow their physicians' orders and discuss discrepancies with the physician.
Learn here why the acting United States Surgeon General Supports Self Management Programs:
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/publichealthreports/sgp124-4.pdf