ILWACO, Wash. – January 2024 – With the beginning of a new year, Ocean Beach Hospital & Medical Clinics (OBHMC) reaffirms its commitment to community health with a range of educational outreach offerings. Recognizing the importance of setting and achieving health goals, OBHMC hosts a variety of programs addressing prevalent health challenges faced by the community.
The Community Outreach team at OBHMC, composed of trained educators and health care providers, provides support and education on pressing health concerns. These include diabetes care and prevention, heart health, caregiver support, and managing chronic health conditions, such as cancer, pain, and depression, among other essential topics.
Diabetes Self-Management Training, addressing one of the community’s biggest health needs, is designed to equip individuals diagnosed with diabetes with essential knowledge and tools to manage their condition effectively. This comprehensive program, accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators, covers crucial areas such as medication management, exercise, stress management, and blood glucose monitoring. Classes are conducted each month for four weeks, beginning on the first Thursday of each month at Ocean Beach Hospital’s Diabetes Education Room. The program is covered by insurance, requiring a referral from a health care provider.
PreventT2, a lifestyle change Diabetes prevention program, aims to empower individuals at risk of Type 2 diabetes through lifestyle modifications. This evidence-based program focuses on action planning, healthy eating, physical activity, and ongoing support to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The next program will begin in June.
Additionally, Living Well, a chronic disease self-management workshop series, addresses the needs of those living with chronic conditions, offering strategies to enhance their daily lives. This six-week course covers various conditions including arthritis, diabetes, migraines, and more. The emphasis is on personalized action plans, problem solving, and healthy choices.
The programming extends support beyond individual health concerns. OBHMC is committed to providing a supportive network for caregivers through the Caregiver Support Groups, fostering friendship and emotional backing for those caring for loved ones, and is introducing an additional support group in Ocean Park that will meet starting in February on the first Monday of the month from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Ocean Park Timberland Library. The Naselle Support Group continues to meet on the first Thursday of each month from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Naselle Timberland Library.
Moreover, the hospital will continue its most popular community course – Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) – twice weekly at the Naselle Community Center. The one-hour classes, which can be done sitting or standing, focus on balance, strength, and flexibility for those 65 and older. Another evidence-based class, the Otago Exercise Program, is designed to help prevent falls for more frail, elderly individuals. Names of interested participants are currently being accepted for the Otago program’s waiting list.
Looking ahead, OBHMC also offers special events, classes, and talks. Upcoming workshops include “Love your Heart,” an educational cooking class, on February 14, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Long Beach Grange, and “Project Talk,” an advanced care planning workshop and incentivized study in collaboration with the National Institute of Health, on April 18 at the Peninsula Senior Center.
To learn more about OBHMC’s Community Outreach initiatives, interested individuals can visit the hospital’s website or directly contact the Community Outreach Department at (360) 642-6308 for details on upcoming programs, schedules, and registration information. https://www.oceanbeachhospital.com/community-outreach/
