baylor scott & white health
Health Care Reimagined
taking control of diabetes
Barbara Cornelius, 71, has coped with diabetes for about a decade. Her daughter encouraged her to check out the Baylor Scott & White Health and Wellness Center at Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center. She’ s glad she did.
“ I’ m so pleased with the entire program,” said the retired home health care nurse.“ My diabetes has improved and stabilized. The diabetes educator has been excellent. And I am impressed with the doctor.”
Barbara’ s counselors have persuaded her of the importance of exercise consistency in controlling her condition. She does strength training and aerobic conditioning two to three times a week at the facility, where she can also see her physician. She has been at it for about a year.
About one out of every 12 Dallas metropolitan area adults has diagnosed diabetes. An estimated three more have prediabetes, with blood glucose levels higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. These numbers are expected to rise in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The Health and Wellness Center represents a $ 15 million initial investment by Baylor Scott & White to combat the disease through screening, prevention and ongoing care. It’ s a joint effort with the City of Dallas. The innovative facility combines nutrition education, exercise classes and clinical care under one roof to make diabetes control convenient and affordable.
The facility is located in a 22-acre park with a half-mile walking trail, a football field, a baseball field and tennis courts. In the center are a gymnasium, weight room, aerobics room and a teaching kitchen. Primary care is delivered in a clinic with a spacious patient lobby, exam rooms, a procedure room and a family health counseling room.
Since opening in 2010, the Health and Wellness Center has served more than 5,500 people. Its main service area covers four Southern Dallas ZIP codes where the diabetes rate is twice as high as that of Dallas County. A 2015 study of Health and Wellness Center members found a 17 percent reduction in emergency department usage and a 31 percent reduction in hospital admissions. About 40 percent of active members achieved normal blood sugar levels, and about three out of four active members achieved normal blood pressure.
“ I wish I had started sooner.”— Barbara Cornelius
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