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Tennessee Department of Health initiatives working to improve overall health outcomes

Tennessee Nurse, Spring, 2008 by Cathy R. Taylor, Susan R. Cooper

Notwithstanding the persistently high prevalence of diabetes in Tennessee, there is some good news. In November 2007, the Centers for Disease Control recognized Tennessee as first in the nation for having the greatest percentage (about 80%) of patients with diabetes who test their own blood glucose levels daily. Significant increases (about 25%) in daily monitoring were reported between 1997 and 2006. Blood glucose monitoring is a key ingredient for successful diabetes management.

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Still more good news can be found in the availability of sound science to guide diabetes prevention efforts and funding to support successful programs or to enable development and testing of new prevention and treatment approaches. Over three years, a total of $22 million, appropriated by the Tennessee legislature, will be available to combat the devastating impact of diabetes and obesity in the places we live and work. The messages remain simple: "Diabetes and obesity can be prevented. Start where you are today. Make healthier dietary choices. Move more."

Future Project Diabetes funding opportunities will be posted on the Tennessee Department of Health's website at http://health.state.tn.us/vendors.> About the Authors

Cathy R. Taylor, DrPH, MSN, RN, was appointed the Assistant Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health in 2007. Taylor oversees a system of 13 regional health offices responsible for the oversight of services in 89 rural and six metropolitan county health departments. Prior to joining the Department of Health, Taylor served as an assistant professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. She has also served as director of the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance Disease Management Program, and worked in community health nursing and outreach at Vanderbilt School of Nursing.

Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, was appointed the Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health in early 2007 to serve as the first Tennessee Commissioner of Health who is a registered nurse. Cooper joined state government in September 2005 as a health advisor and was instrumental in developing Tennessee's Health Care Safety Net. She later assumed leadership of Project Diabetes, a program Governor Phil Bredesen created to curb the Type II Diabetes threat facing young Tennesseans. Cooper also helped facilitate GetFitTN, the public awareness portion of Bredesen's campaign to promote healthier lifestyles and habits among Tennesseans. Before joining state government, Cooper was a faculty member and assistant dean at Vanderbilt's School of Nursing, where she also earned her nursing degree. Cooper began her career as a nurse specializing in emergency and intensive care.

by Cathy R. Taylor, DrPH, MSN, RN, Assistant Commissioner of Tennessee Department of Health and Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, Commissioner of Tennessee Department of Health