New Business / August 2005
Diabetes Answers
 Barbara Pellegrin |
By Pat Lawrence
The diagnosis of diabetes can cause as many questions as it answers. Nurse Practitioner Barbara Pellegrin answers those questions for newly diagnosed patients and for diabetics who may need assistance managing their condition. “The goal”, she says, “ is to help diabetics be healthy and feel healthy.”
Born and raised in Pocahontas County, Barbara has lived in Parkersburg for twenty years. What she calls her “patch work’ education started initially with Licensed Practical Nurse’s training. She continued her education, garnering an Associate degree in nursing, followed by a Bachelors degree in nursing from Marshall and a Master’s degree in nursing from WVU. After passing a national credentialing exam, she received Family Nurse Practitioner certification and, in 2002, she was certified in Advanced Diabetes Management. “Every time I went back to school, I got a broader based education and more to build on.”
She worked with a Parkersburg endocrinologist for years as a nurse practitioner. “When he left, I realized there was still a need for a practice in diabetes.” She opened "Diabetes Answers" in May, using her savings to start the business. “At first I was such a chicken! Now I feel like a pioneer.”
Barbara sees walk in patients and patients with appoint ments on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8-5. On Tuesdays and Saturdays, she sees clients by appointment only. “Initial visits are usually an hour and follow up visits about half an hour.” Barbara assesses each patient and helps them develop a plan of care. She can order diagnostic laboratory tests and medicines like glucophage or insulin. She does a lot of teaching about dietary management, food choices, self care, the role of exercise in diabetes management and preventing long term com plications. Her South Parkersburg office has an exam room and a teaching room. She says, “Patients seem to have no qualms at all that there isn’t a physician here. But if I find a problem, I can always refer them to an endocrinologist or other specialist.”
Although many of her current clients are Medicare patients, she encourages pre-diabetic education and instruction, “to help develop behaviors that will help prevent diabetes. The chances of developing diabetes increase with age. It’s easy to ignore when you are young and hard to believe that the long term complications can be so severe.”
Barbara’s services are generally covered by insurance. The cost of a visit depends on time and testing, but is typically around $100 for the first visit. She has prepared a brochure for physicians and pharmacists to familiarize them with her services. She was right about the need for diabetes assistance. “Only one other state has a higher incidence of diabetes than West Virginia.” By July, her calender began filling up a week in advance. “Things are starting to look good.”
In addition to her practice, Barbara is returning the educational benefit that she enjoyed. On weekends, she teaches at Mountain State University in Beckley, help ing Licensed Practical Nurses build on their experience and get their Bachelors degree in nursing in three years.
For more information, contact, Barbara Pellegrin, RN, MSN, Advanced Diabetes Management Nurse, Diabetes Answers, LLC, 304-422-7007, 2516 Pike Street, Parkersburg, WV.
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Femme Fair 2006
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