Marshall University’s Center for Rural Health links a network of rural health centers, churches and community organizations who provide chronic disease self management resources to the public. The Help Yourself self-management program helps develop programs that allow individuals to take charge of their chronic diseases, such as diabetes, by offering help yourself workshops and other resources throughout the greater Appalachian region.
Dr. Richard Crespo enlisted WELD to apply technology and marketing principles to training these organizations and creating resources for more than a dozen different health and wellness programs.
You can read about one example of a program Dr. Crespo’s team helps implement, a child oral health pilot, in the linked West Virginia Public Broadcasting article.
Forgive the pun and cliche, but this is a project WELD can feel good about.
WELD is currently re-designing the Marshall University Center for Rural Health website. The new website will feature improved functionality in a user-friendly interface. The site’s primary purpose is to serve as a resource clearinghouse and coordination tool for Help Yourself Program leaders and coordinators. Leaders and coordinators will have access to valuable tools that help them train as workshop leaders; market, plan and coordinate Help Yourself workshops; and aggregate participant data to improve the program’s reach and effectiveness.
The site will still feature its successful Chronic Disease Self Management Program and Diabetes Self Management Program, but will be adding Gentle Yoga. Gentle Yoga is an evidence-based program that teaches simple yoga techniques to participants. The techniques are practiced in a chair and can easily integrate into participants’ daily lives, improving breathing, circulation, and overall health.
The site will also provide support resources for individuals who already have or or are considering participation in Help Yourself Chronic Disease Management programs. Participants will be able to download educational materials and literature, stay connected to the program through several social media platforms, and locate or sign-up for upcoming workshops.
Perhaps the greatest benefit of the new site will be time-saving for users. In the past, the instructors had to submit hand-written forms regarding course participation to the Marshall CRH. Every quarter, the data was then manually entered into spreadsheets for submission to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. The submission of this data is critical for the continued funding of their program via the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The new website, headed into the programming phase, will include a password-protected area for workshop instructors to enter their course participant data. This data will then be stored securely, and easily exported in the appropriate format for submission to the DHHR. An interactive map will also be created allowing public health professionals and facilities to find events and resources via county in WV and the surrounding states.
In a couple months, we’ll be launching the site, so stay tuned for more updates.
Want to learn more about self-management programs and chronic disease? Check out
- This AARP Magazine article, “Take Charge of Your Health,” about people facing diabetes, heart disease and arthritis;
- Or the USA Today Diet Challenge and series of stories on how to choose a walking program.
WELD Creative Director Haynes Mansfield also contributed to this project update.
Tags: Center For Rural Health, Dr. Richard Crespo, Marshall University
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