Here is a letter I wrote in an attempt to start a diabetes screening programme.
14 February 2007
Director, Nursing Program
Dodge City Community College
2501 North 14th Avenue
Dodge City, Kansas 67801
Dear Ms. ,
This letter is to confirm what we discussed on Monday, 12 February 2007.
I propose that the Dodge City (noon) Lions Club and the Nursing Program of the Dodge
City Community College work together in producing a morning Diabetes Screening Day. We all
know that a morning fasting test is the best way to screen for diabetes. Producing this would
involve advertising the event, students to do the medical work and obtaining consumables.
The Lions would deal with advertising via the local newspapers (English and Spanish)and the local TV affiliate. Part of this would be obtaining permission of the American DiabetesAssociation (ADA) to publish their Diabetes Risk Test in both English(1) and Spanish(2). We would also arrange for handing out pamphlets and contacting other civic organizations. There is aDiabetes Support Group which meets on Thursday evening once a month at the hospital; I willcontact them and ask for their help in this matter. I will also ask the ADA affiliate in Wichita forany advise or help that can provide. We can also talk with the School Superintendent and schoolnurses with respect to extending an invitation to students. We would have to get legal help increating parental permission forms and liability release forms(3). Could the college legal staff arrange this?
The Lions could ask various pharmacists in town (i.e.Wal-mart, Dillons or Walgreens) to
supply blood test meters and test stripes for free or at cost. The Lions can arrange to buy any
consumables if necessary. You would have to advise us on the number of test meters we should
obtain and the number of test stripes we would need.
We would like your students to take blood samples for blood glucose readings and
probably blood pressure readings and heart rates. Taking the blood samples would give your
students working with random members of the public.
There are multiple reasons for this joint activity:
* Diabetes has become a growing concern and may be approaching epidemic status,
* Many people are ignorant of the various forms of diabetes,
* People are unaware of the warning signs of diabetes and who is at risk,
* The public is not always aware of the behavior that lead to diabetes (i.e. obesity)
* This action would bring favorable attention to your Nursing program and DCCC
* It would bring favorable publicity to the Lions
* It would benefit the public for years to come should this become a recurring event.
Depending on your class schedule and final exam schedules, a date in April 2007 might
meet the criteria of having enough time to make arrangement and yet not be "too far in the
future". Arrangements for supplies and obtaining volunteers could probably be done in February. The real problem would be in getting publicity, and that would take several articles and letters to various civic organizations. Thus, a target date in April would probably be appropriate.
Since Lions is an International Organization, a successful screening day could lead to
other communities emulating us and thus aiding our future. A successful screening day could
lead to other colleges taking this up as well. The complications of diabetes are expensive and
will only grow more expensive in the future. Unless and until a "cure is found", diabetes will be
a major world wide concern. A successful anti-diabetes campaign could be profoundly important in our future.
Very Respectfully,
Lion Michael
Enclosures: how you help save sight
what you should know about diab etic eye disease
what you should know about glauoma
Footnotes:
1. http://www.diabetes.org/risk-test/text-version.jsp (English version)
2. http://www.diabetes.org/espanol/recursos-examen.jsp (Spanish version)
3. The ADA may be able to help with legal issues.
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