Grand Opening Ushers in New Era of Diabetes Care in Monterey County

Media Contact: Karina Rusk
831-759-1843

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Karina Rusk 831-759-1843

Grand Opening Ushers in New Era of Diabetes Care in Monterey County

SALINAS, CA, September 5, 2017- People living with diabetes now have a comprehensive community resource to treat and manage their disease. Today is the public opening for the Salinas Valley Health Clinics Diabetes & Endocrine Center located in Salinas. The 10,000 square foot center expects to serve hundreds of patients on a monthly basis, including 600 follow-up patients and 260 new patients just in the month of September.

“Diabetes is the number one community health need in Monterey County,” says Pete Delgado, President/CEO of Salinas Valley Health. “Fifty-seven percent of the population in Monterey County has diabetes or pre-diabetes. With the newly expanded Diabetes & Endocrine Center our Board Certified endocrinologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, diabetes educators, and nutritionists will be treating more people living with this disease.”

Salinas Valley Health marked the grand opening of the Salinas Valley Health Clinics Diabetes & Endocrine Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony last week. State and local leaders are praising the expanded access to quality care and commitment to reversing the alarming trend of diabetes in the region. During the ceremony, Delgado accepted certificates of recognition from the office of Assemblymember Anna Caballero and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors.

Nicolas Kissell, MD, Medical Director of the Diabetes & Endocrine Center says education for people with diabetes is essential for a better quality of life. “Living with diabetes is hard,” said Dr. Nicolas Kissell. “We finally have a center to accommodate all our patients, to answer all their questions and really be able to treat them and prevent lifelong complications.”

The Salinas Valley Health Clinics Diabetes & Endocrine Center offers patients integrated care, diagnostic tests, treatments, preventive care and English and Spanish language education classes as well as group support sessions. Nutrition and healthy cooking demonstrations will take place in a customized demonstration kitchen. A wall mounted interactive kiosk in the center’s waiting room will create personalized healthy cooking recipes for patients based on their food preferences and cooking abilities.

“We are providing the community a sustainable diabetes treatment and prevention center,” says Dana Armstrong, RD, CDE, Director of Diabetes Services. “We will be adding healthcare providers and services as needed. We will provide patients the care and resources to live better lives with diabetes and will focus on the prevention of this disease.”

The Salinas Valley Health Clinics Diabetes & Endocrine Center is one of 60 sites in the world chosen for the early release of the new FDA approved MiniMed 760G device. It is a hybrid closed loop system worn outside the body that continuously monitors glucose levels and adjusts insulin delivery 24 hours a day based on information received from a glucose sensor worn by the person with diabetes. The device is the size of a credit cards and patients say it is life changing.

The expanded clinic located at 355Abbott Street in Salinas replaces the Diabetes & Endocrine Center located on Los Palos Drive across from the hospital. In addition to diabetes management, providers at the new Diabetes & Endocrine Center will treat many other hormonal conditions such as thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, cholesterol issues and pituitary dysfunction. Salinas Valley Health Foundation helped fund the expansion of the Diabetes & Endocrine Center.

Editor Note: Spanish language release and photo attached: Salinas Valley Health Chef Jason Giles conducting a healthy cooking demonstration in the Demonstration Kitchen and Education Center.