Chronic Disease Management at VNA

Chronic Disease Management Programs

At VNA, we help you prevent and manage chronic conditions. Our doctors, nurse practitioners, CNA’s, registered nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and nutritionists work together to help you stay healthy and improve your quality of life.

What Is A Chronic Disease?

A chronic disease is a health condition that lasts a long time (1 year or more), limits daily activities and/or requires ongoing medical attention. A chronic condition can last for many months or even years. Some are permanent, meaning they won’t go away. However, you can manage these conditions with the right care. People with chronic diseases need to see their doctor often to help keep things under control.

What Conditions Qualify for Chronic Care Management?

Chronic care management is important for many long-lasting health conditions. Some of the most common conditions that qualify for this type of care include:

• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
• Heart Disease
• Asthma
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Arthritis
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Depression and Anxiety
• Cancer (colorectal, cervical, breast and others)

Why Managing Chronic Diseases Is Important

Chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Many chronic diseases are caused by a short list of lifestyle choices:

• Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Poor nutrition, including diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in sodium and saturated fats.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Excessive alcohol use.
• Poor sleep and high stress.

What Is Chronic Disease Management?

Chronic disease management is medical care to control a long-lasting health condition. It helps you stay as healthy as possible. This includes taking the right medicines, making healthy choices, and keeping track of your symptoms. Your doctor will help you make a plan to manage your condition. The goal is to prevent problems and keep you feeling good every day.

What Is Disease Management in Healthcare?

In healthcare, disease management is all about working together to take care of chronic conditions. Chronic disease management programs at VNA include:

• Regular Check-ups and Screenings: we monitor your health with regular visits to check on your condition and catch any changes early. This could include checking blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and weight.
• Medication Management: we make sure you are taking the right medicine at the right time. We can adjust doses or prescribe new treatments to keep your condition under control if required.
• Health Education: Your doctor will teach you how to manage your condition. This might include learning how to read food labels if you have diabetes, or how to perform breathing exercises for asthma. We also have group education classes about chronic disease management and prevention where you can keep learning and find community support.
• Coordinating Care: VNA can handle a lot of your care internally through our nutrition experts, pharmacists, mental health specialists and other healthcare professionals. If your condition requires extra help from specialists (like a cardiologist or endocrinologist), we can refer you.

Chronic Disease Self Management Program

One way to make chronic disease management more effective is teaching people to self-manage their condition. This means giving patients the skills and tools to get a better understanding of their condition, advocate for themselves and take an active role in preventing complications and managing their health.

At VNA, we encourage people to take on self-management on top of the medical care they receive at our centers. Besides providing education opportunities, we work with patients to create a personal action plan that can include regular check-ups, exercise routines, or changes to their diet.

Diabetes Management Plans at VNA

Diabetes is a growing concern for Illinois patients. If not properly managed, it can lead to serious health issues like heart disease, kidney problems, and nerve damage. Managing diabetes well is key to living a healthy life and preventing complications.That’s why we offer personalized diabetes management plans to help you control your blood sugar and take proactive steps to reduce risks. Our diabetes program is called “Diabetes Total Care”, and provides all the support you need to keep diabetes in check with just one visit to your VNA clinic.

During your Diabetes Total Care appointment, you can:

• Get your A1c check all other primary care checks you need
• Do a medication review and get your prescription refills
• Schedule additional appointments for other services (like nutritional counseling)

Our team works closely with you to make sure you feel supported in managing your diabetes and staying healthy for the long term. Learn more about our Diabetes Total Care program.

VNA Free Wellness Classes

VNA offers free evidence- based wellness classes where participants learn more about preventing and managing their chronic diseases, including diabetes. Our classes are fun and interactive! We help participants learn more about how to cook simple recipes, eat healthy, manage their meds and stay active. This is a great way to learn more and meet others who are facing similar challenges and are improving their health.