December 2005 NEWS

Mid-State Health Center (formerly Speare Medical Associates), Plymouth, NH, has been honored by the National Rural Health Association for its “Diabetes Day” Program to coordinate preventive care for diabetics and conduct diabetes education.

The Diabetes Day Program was selected as one of the “Models that Work” projects to receive a scholarship to the NRHA’s First Annual Quality Conference in Kansas City, Oct. 3-4.

Sharon Beaty, Executive Director of Mid-State Health Center, said Diabetes Day began in the spring of 2005 and is now happening once per quarter. She acknowledged support and encouragement from Dr. Fred Kelsey, FACP, the Center’s Medical Director, in making the program a reality.

Diabetic patients are invited to come in and meet with physicians, nutrition specialists, and diabetes educators to talk about all aspects of managing their disease. A side benefit is that patients meet others with the same issues and problems and thus constitute an informal support group, along with receiving professional guidance on managing their disease. Ms. Beaty said there is even a designated “poster patient” who can speak to others on the importance of complying with diet, blood sugar testing, and exercise in keeping their disease under control.

Feedback from the groups who have thus far taken part in the Diabetes Day program has been positive, although Ms. Beaty said the Center does not yet have outcome measurements. Support for the program has come from Speare Hospital, the Community Health Access Network, and the New England Quality Health Care Foundation.

This article is an excerpt from the New England Rural Health News Volume 4 Issue 4.

Plymouth- Dr. Ghaleb Karouni and Dr. Lei Jiang have recently been certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine recognizes excellence in the discipline of internal medicine its subspecialties, and areas of added qualifications. All physicians at Mid-State Health Center are board certified in their specialty area.

Dr. Karouni and Dr. Jiang recently joined Mid-State Health Center in September of 2005. In the three month period that the doctors have been in New Hampshire, they have become an integral part of the Plymouth community. “I like the area and it’s my pleasure to take care of this great community” states Dr. Karouni. Dr. Jiang agrees “I have met many appreciative patients in the three months I’ve been here. Plymouth is different from anywhere else I’ve ever lived. I can’t wait to explore what the community has to offer.”

Mid-State Health Center is an integrated practice that offers services in internal medicine, family medicine and psychology. Medical care is provided at 20 Highland St, Plymouth and 859 Lake Street Bristol. Psychology services are provided at 19 Avery St. Plymouth.