Chronic Illness, Partnership Profiles

Read about KLRE/KUAR in Little Rock, AR, and its partnership with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Their project began with a 13-week radio series on pertinent end-of-life issues and ended with a live call-in show.

The rate of diabetes among African Americans in Georgia is staggering. To educate African Americans about the disease and to help them change their lifestyles, WCLK and the Georgia Dept. of Community Health, Office of Minority Health produced Lifeline to Health: Managing Diabetes Among African Americans a series of 5-minute radio vignettes and a monthly news and call-in program. They also created an educational workshop package and trained health educators in its use.

Learn how WKMS-FM in Murray, KY and the Murray State University Department of Nursing produced a documentary on a range of topics regarding end-of-life issues.

Learn how Indiana Public Radio (WBST-FM) in Muncie, IN and its partner, Center for Gerontology at the Fisher Institute for Wellness at Ball State University, used steering committees to help shape their projects.

WEKU and the Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center partnered for Simple Changes: Fighting Chronic Illness in Appalachian Kentucky, a year- long project to improve the quality of care for the chronically ill in the Appalachian counties of Kentucky. Four first-person radio diaries showed how the chronically ill and caregivesr cope day to day. Additional programming included news reports, live call-ins and a documentary. The Medical Center provided screenings and a project Web site offered additional resources and access to all programming.

Learn how WNED-AM in Buffalo, NY and the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care produced an interactive panel discussion with medical, legal and spiritual professionals to address end-of-life issues.

Find out how KVMR-FM in Nevada City, CA and FREED, a disability advocacy group, created programming to educate their local community on the long-term care need of isolated elders in their community.

WOMR, the Center for Life Care, Planning and Support (a program of Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod) and The Cape Cod Voice produced Silent Stories, a multi-media initiative giving voice to residents with chronic illnesses, disabilities and/or chronic pain.

KMUW-FM and the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita joined to improve access to health care, promote discussion about health care within the community, and reduce the isolation experienced by many who suffer from chronic conditions and those who care for them. Chronic Illness, Acute Answers explored 12 topics in radio and television features, news programs, call-in programs, and discussion groups.

Find out how WDCB-FM in Glen Ellyn, IL and the DuPage County Department of Human Services and Public Health significantly improved area residents' knowledge about health care choices by informing them about available resources, services and options.