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Like the members of any good team, the staff at Community Health Education and Resources care more about a winning record than individual acclaim.
So, while the names of CHER health educators might be unfamiliar to the majority of Spokane County residents, the fact that the organization continues to promote programs and classes that advance community well-being and save lives is reward enough for staff members like Samantha Roberts.
“We receive evaluations from people who have absolute life-changing experiences,” said Roberts, a health educator who helps with tobacco cessation, early parenting and CPR classes.
From screenings for heart health to a comprehensive center devoted to diabetes education, CHER calls attention to health concerns with an emphasis on early detection and treatment. A heart health conference scheduled at Deaconess Health and Education Center on Saturday, Sept. 13 will include a broad range of tests for issues like high cholesterol and blood pressure as well as educational presentations on healthy eating and avoiding heart disease.
“It propels people to immediate action to improve their health,” said Tamitha Anderson, CHER communications director. “We’re screening for what people need to know and providing that educational piece so they can take that knowledge and make changes in their lives.”
Through programs like Freedom from Smoking and Quit to Win, CHER extends help to residents in ending the tobacco habit. The next Quit to Win program begins in October and will once again include an array of prizes.
“People need to talk about what they’re going through,” said Elizabeth Seymore, a health educator who specializes in smoking cessation. “I ask them to picture themselves as a non-smoker.”
CHER’s September calendar contains a typical representation of the classes offered by the agency each month, many of them provided at no cost. Topics include pre-diabetes, smart supermarket shopping, CPR, early parenting and childbirth. For classes that include a fee, scholarships are available and most insurance companies will cover the cost of educational courses. CHER, meanwhile makes it a point to help residents find charity care or helpful resources like local Women, Infants and Children sites.
“We really don’t turn people away,” said Tamara Degitz, CHER director. “We’re here to help people.”
CHER was formed in 1997 as an extension of Inland Northwest Health Services, a nonprofit corporation sponsored by Sacred Heart Medical Center, Valley Hospital, Holy Family Hospital and Deaconess Medical Center. In addition to CHER, INHS facilitates organizations such as St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Center, the Children’s Miracle Network and Northwest MedStar.
“The reason CHER was formed was to improve the health of the community,” Degitz said.
The O.C. Olson Diabetes Education Center now has a presence at five locations throughout Spokane County including Valley Hospital. As part of CHER’s ongoing commitment to help residents with diabetes, the center helps residents monitor blood glucose, manage insulin and coordinate meals, physical activity and medications. CHER also frequently offers classes on pre-diabetes, a condition that often presents few or no symptoms. The goal of the courses is to thwart progression to Type 2 diabetes.
In some cases, a class offered by CHER turns into a more significant venture. Such was the case with a program on eating disorders held over two years ago. Because of the response to the course, a support group was organized and continues to meet on a regular basis.
From endocrinologists who teach classes on the risks associated with osteoporosis to dermatologists who conduct free skin cancer screenings, CHER draws upon a stable of local medical professionals who provide valuable insight on a variety of health-related topics. Throughout the year,
CHER will also host a series of classes specifically for professionals on subjects like diabetes and mental health that count toward continuing medical education credits.
“We’re very fortunate to have a pool of experts in the community,” Degitz said.
Want to find out more?
To learn more about Community Health Education and Resources, call 232-8138 or visit www.cherspokane.org.
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By
Craig Howard
