Three Winneshiek Medical Center staff members win "health coach" certification

Three WMC staff members have achieved health coach certification through the Iowa Chronic Care Consortium.  They are diabetic educator Jean Markee, clinic nurse Sandy Meyer and WMC Chief Nursing Officer Linda Klimesh.

"Health coaches assist our patients in developing their own action plan to make lifestyle changes that affect their health," says Klimesh. "Our goal is to improve the quality of life for our patients. By doing so, we can aid in reducing the burden of health care costs associated with chronic conditions on an already strapped health care system."

Both Meyer and Markee are part of the diabetic care team at WMC, joining Dr. Brian Dougan, Kathy Petersburg, Johanna Tweedy and Angie Kerndt.  The team is focusing on improving care for patients with diabetes. The health coaches will enhance this team by building relationships with patients to help them understand the importance of lifestyle changes and assist them in building the confidence they need to create a plan to improve their health as they live with diabetes.