On Friday, Feb. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Western Sierra Medical Clinic (WSMC) will host 40 business, healthcare and community professionals for the first Chronic Disease Management Summit at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital.

WSMC is one of many organizations that make up the California Collaborative for Chronic Disease Prevention (CCCDP). Our goals in hosting this event are as follows:

• Raise awareness of the Chronic Conditions that most impact Nevada County (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, etc.).

• Introduce three “tried and true” interventions: Healthier Living (aka, Chronic Disease Self Management Program), California Smoker's Helpline and the Arthritis Foundation Walk with Ease Program.

• Create action plans for employers, healthcare professionals and the community-at-large, to create pathways to these programs for employees, patients and all other members of our community.

The Chronic Disease Self Management Program has been delivered to Nevada County residents for the past four years thanks to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and Sierra Nevada Community Health Plan. As a result of the Summit and with the assistance of our local media outlets, we hope to greatly expand the outreach of these wonderful programs.

For more information, contact Jon Katis at (530) 913-4908 or empire@nccn.net