Vermont hospital leads workshops with practical skills for managing chronic conditions
Six in 10 adults in the United States are living with a chronic condition like high blood pressure, diabetes or arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Managing a chronic condition means taking prescribed medications, monitoring symptoms and overall health at home — including pain, fatigue and frustration — and scheduling regular checkups with clinicians, as well as eating well and staying active. Doing so helps people avoid or minimize complications, including from other conditions and illnesses like influenza and COVID-19.
Rutland (Vt.) Regional Medical Center, in partnership with My Healthy Vermont, offers self-management programs that provide participants with the skills and tools needed to effectively manage their medical condition. Delivered at no cost in a group workshop format led by trained leaders, these programs provide evidence-based guidance, education and information to assist people coping with type 2 diabetes, chronic pain, heart disease, depression, liver disease, emphysema, hypertensin and other medical conditions.
Specific, practical skills that participants learn in the workshops include:
- techniques to manage frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation;
- exercises to maintain and improve strength, flexibility and endurance;
- strategies for communicating with family, friends and health professionals;
- guidance for evaluating health care options and new treatments;
- and more.
Workshop participants may meet regularly for six or eight weeks or for an entire year, depending on the specific program.
The community health team at Rutland Regional works collaboratively to offer many other programs, services and resources to improve the health and well-being of patients and community members.