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COBANK HEALTH & HOSPITAL NEWS
DONATES
$227,000 TO THE SKYLER BEAR
CONNECTWELL CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY
TELEMEDICINE
PILOT PROGRAM Approaching his 10th anniversary, Skyler Bear brings
comfort to grieving families as a gift from Pine Pointe,
The program connects rural diabetes patients to Family Health Center, Navicent Health. Since 2009, this 16-inch cuddly
Navicent Health over high-speed internet. bear has provided support for children as they walk
through the emotions of grief after losing a loved one.
CoBank, EveryoneOn, Navicent Health and Robin Health announced
the launch of the ConnectWell pilot program in Macon. The program will “I’ve had parents tell me their child will not leave
provide 100 diabetic patients in rural southwest Georgia an internet-ready home without Skyler Bear. So, they really do attach to
tablet to enable them to manage and monitor their diabetes from home the bear, and it’s small enough for a child to handle,”
through an application, and a direct connection to physicians at Family says Mike Manley, retired Bereavement Services
Health Center, Navicent Health. Coordinator of Pine Pointe.
The ConnectWell pilot is based on a University of Mississippi Medical Manley served as part of the team that brought
Center program that helped lower patient blood sugar levels, had zero Skyler Bear and his colorful storybook to life in
hospital and emergency room remittances, enhanced the ability of patients 2009. Since that time, more than 3,500 Skyler Bears
to manage their own healthcare and, by extension, drove down costs for have found homes in the hearts of children across
hospitals and patients. central Georgia.
PINE POINTE, NAVICENT HEALTH PROVIDES
“Navicent Health is committed to enhancing health and healthcare through HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE TO CENTRAL
access, affordability and equity of care close to home,” says Dr. Ninfa M. GEORGIANS, WHETHER IN THE HOME OR IN
Saunders, President and CEO of Navicent Health. “We are pleased to join ITS STATE-OF-THE-ART 15-BED FACILITY WITH
with our partners to launch the ConnectWell pilot program for the benefit PRIVATE ROOMS, BEAUTIFUL GARDENS AND
of patients with diabetes in our region, and look forward to replicating this FAMILY AREAS. FOR INFORMATION, VISIT
program in other areas and for patients with other chronic conditions.” WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG/PINEPOINTE.
TAKING CONTROL OF DEPRESSION FALL 2018 | navicenthealth.org 15
Depression can affect anyone, but in a survey from 2013–2016, the rate of
depression in women was nearly twice as high as the rate in men, according
to the National Center for Health Statistics. Your risk for depression comes
down to factors both personal—your brain chemistry and the way you respond
to stress, for example—and environmental, such as income and home life.
Genetics plays a role, too, as depression can run in families.
As many as 90 percent of people with depression benefit from treatment,
such as medication and psychotherapy, according to the American Psychiatric
Association, but a recent study found that only one-third of newly diagnosed
individuals started treatment. The first step in taming depression is recognizing
that it can be managed.
A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN CAN HELP YOU MAKE A PLAN TO
MANAGE DEPRESSION. TO FIND A PARTNER IN CARE, VISIT
WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG AND CLICK ON “FIND A DOCTOR.”
