CLAY COUNTY HOSPITAL NAMED ICAHN IMPACT AWARD WINNER FOR LIFESTYLE COACH ASSISTANTS PROGRAM

Tracy Warner (left), Kamy Vail (middle), and Laurel Mason (right)

FLORA, IL— The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) announced Clay County Hospital as its 2024 IMPACT Award Winner for the hospital’s Lifestyle Coach Assistants Program during the organization’s Annual Conference held November 14 at the I-Hotel and Conference Center, Champaign. Kamy Vail and Laurel Mason accepted the award on behalf of the hospital.

The Community Award showcases ICAHN member hospitals that initiated a new approach to improve patient relationships and care, implemented a new process flow or life-safety improvement, found a creative way to motivate and inspire staff, and improved the well-being of staff or patients. 

The Lifestyle Coach Assistance Program was established to support the existing National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and Diabetes Self-Management Education. The program focuses on improving awareness, access to and appropriateness of classes, ease of enrollment, and relevant participant support while addressing barriers to accessing the appropriate care and addressing social disparities. The goal of the project is to improve the health and education of the local community regarding Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes diagnosis and treatment. Before the implementation of this program, the closest DPP program was 65 miles away.  

The Lifestyle Coach Assistants Program has supported nearly 350 individuals. Of these 350 individuals, 92 percent have had a 5 percent decrease in their A1Cs. Two groups of individuals completed the DPP program, which requires a year-long dedication to education and meetings to improve their health status. 

With the combination of education and assistance through the Lifestyle Coach Assistance program, which meets monthly, Clay County has been able to formally educate and support nearly 400 individuals. They have successfully educated the public on their support services and continue to advertise to increase their patient population. There have been multiple booths set up throughout the county to educate and support individuals that have very limited resources.  

Located in Princeton, IL, ICAHN is a network of 60 small, rural hospitals dedicated to strengthening the operations of its member hospitals through collaboration. The organization is composed of Illinois hospitals who have earned critical access hospital designation by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is recognized nationally for its work with rural healthcare, administering several state, federal, and private healthcare programs.