FirstHealth of the Carolinas - FirstReach

What is it?

FirstHealth of the Carolinas developed FirstReach, a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to diabetes outreach and education. FirstReach goals are to increase awareness of signs and symptoms of diabetes and pre-diabetes, implement early diagnosis through screenings and referrals, and improve diabetes management and compliance through intensive education and coordination with primary care providers. FirstReach has created a non-traditional glucose screening program, offers home visits and linkages to primary care for individuals with abnormal results and embeds certified diabetes educators into primary care settings.

Who is it for?

Underserved Montgomery County diabetic patients.

Why do they do it?

More than 20 percent of county residents report having diabetes, and nearly 72 percent are overweight or obese.

Impact

Since 2008, thousands have been screened and hundreds of educational encounters have been conducted. In 2011, 3,279 individuals were screened, with 684 abnormal results detected. From 2007 to 2011, the diabetes rate rose from 16.1 to 20.9 per 10,000; however the diabetes mortality rate went from 40.8 to 22.8.

Contact: Roxanne Elliott
Policy Director
Telephone: 910-715-3487
Email: rmelliott@firsthealth.org