BHB DREAM Centre offers free health screenings to the public

(Bermuda Hospitals Board, November 1, 2016) Residents can take advantage of free health screenings as Bermuda Hospitals Board celebrates Diabetes and Chronic Lung Disease Awareness Month. The Diabetes Respiratory Endocrine and Metabolism (DREAM) Centre provide diabetes, asthma and lung disease education and awareness, will provide the service. The accredited team comprises Asthma & Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Nurse Educator Debbie Barboza, Diabetes Nurse Educators Jane Hope and Tammoi Jarrett, Clinical Dietitians Letitia Rabain and Jessika Quigley and Endocrinologist Dr Annabel Fountain. All programs at the DREAM Centre are accredited and covered by insurance.

The DREAM Centre team will give free health screenings for lung function, blood sugar and blood pressure at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and the Mid Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI). The screenings will take place on the following dates and times:

• KEMH General Wing lobby Monday 7 November 2pm — 5pm
• MWI 1st Floor Conference Room Tuesday 8 November 2pm — 4pm
• KEMH Acute Care Wing main lobby Wednesday 9 November 2pm — 5pm

During Diabetes & Chronic Lung Disease Awareness Month, DREAM Centre team members will release articles each week highlighting how you can recognize symptoms and manage your condition or help your loved ones.

“Anyone over 40 who smokes or has a history of smoking and who finds it difficult to breathe sometimes or all the time, should come in and take the free lung function test during the screenings. If that is not possible they should contact me on 239-1652 or email asthma.centre@bhb.bm,” said BHB Asthma Educator Debbie Barboza. “Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious lung disease which over time makes it harder to breathe.”

“The Bermuda Hospitals Board Dream Centre is committed to educating the public about diabetes and seeks to lead the way in prevention locally,” said Dr Fountain. “We have one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world. It is the leading cause of blindness and heart disease on the island, but these side effects are preventable with prevention, early detection and proper management,” she said. “At the DREAM Centre we want to help people to control their sugar levels. Good education has been shown to be as effective at lowering blood sugar levels as many diabetes medications and regular monitoring and appropriate interventions help individuals to avoid the complications of diabetes.”

BHB CEO Venetta Symonds said: “We are pleased to be able to offer these free screenings to the public. As healthcare professionals we recognize the importance of early detection and prevention in chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma and COPD. I encourage you to come in and meet our DREAM Centre professionals. They can help you on your wellness path.”

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