Diabetes Treatment Center Celebrates 15 Years

Media Contacts:
Carla Hollis
Chief Marketing & Planning Officer
(919) 954-3257
carla.hollis@duke.edu

Paige Humble
Director of Marketing & Communications
(919) 954-3293
p.humble@duke.edu

Aug. 18, 2003 For Immediate Release

First opening its doors in August 1988, the RCH Diabetes Treatment Center (DTC) is celebrating fifteen years at Raleigh Community Hospital. The largest and longest running diabetes education program in the Raleigh area, the DTC has educated more than 11,000 patients of all ages, both newly diagnosed and those who have had diabetes for years.

When the center first opened at 2 South in the main hospital, all diabetes patients had to be admitted to the 12-bed facility for diabetes education. The center relocated to 3400 Executive Drive and then to its current location at 3325 Executive Drive where it provides education to outpatients, inpatients and RCH nursing staff to keep them up to date on the latest in diabetes care.

Dr. Denis Becker was instrumental in the opening of the center in 1988. Fifteen years later, he is still refers patients to the center for awareness and information to control their condition. “I think that the DTC has provided an improved standard of care for diabetes within the Raleigh community,” Dr. Becker says. “The RCH Diabetes Treatment Center set the standard for quality diabetes care and provided the information and resources for the expansion of similar centers throughout the community. I truly do believe that this center is one of the best models of a diabetes self-management program in the state.”

Certified by the American Diabetes Association for quality outpatient diabetes self management education, the center today offers the only insulin pump training program in Wake county. The center also offers a monthly diabetes support group and numerous educational community seminars throughout the year.
In celebration of the center’s anniversary, an open house will be held in the center on Thursday, August 21 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Come meet DTC staff and learn what the center has to offer.

Raleigh Community Hospital is a 186-bed acute-care facility located one block north of the beltline on Wake Forest Road in North Raleigh. Raleigh Community Hospital is part of the Duke University Health System. A full-service acute care hospital, RCH’s range of services includes a 24-hour Emergency Department, Intensive and Critical Care, Childbirth Center, Rehabilitation, Newborn Hearing Screening, Diabetes Treatment Center, Hematology/Oncology, Radiation/Oncology and community education.

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