Community Health Education

Otsego Memorial Hospital offers health education programs, as well as seminars in response to community needs. Please see our calendar of events  for upcoming classes and support groups.

Healthy Lifestyles

Healthy Lifestyles is a diabetes prevention program that works by promoting good health. This group-based, year-long program is designed to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes through simple lifestyle adjustments and monitoring.

You’re not alone. This CDC-designed program will provide you with both a Lifestyle Coach and a group to support you. You will spend the year-long program with people who are facing the same challenges and trying to make the same changes as you.

An hour isn’t long. The time commitment is very manageable. The program is split into two phases. The first four months consist of hour-long sessions held once a week. The final six sessions occur once a month.

Two main goals. With the help of your new team, you will learn to incorporate healthier eating and moderate physical activity into your daily life. The hope is to lose 7 percent of your starting body weight and incorporate 150 minutes of physical activity each week.

This program is proven to help people lose weight and lower their risk of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent.

Getting Started

If you are an adult who is overweight, has a family history of diabetes, has been diagnosed with prediabetes by a healthcare professional, or scored 9 or higher on the prediabetes screening widget, you may be at risk for type 2 diabetes.

For just $60, you can get started on your new healthy lifestyle. Scholarships are available.

Call our Community Health Education Coordinator at 989-731-7718 today to schedule your group class.

Additional Programs

Advance Directives

Recording your healthcare choices can be invaluable if you are ever in a situation where someone else must make decisions for you. Provide your family/friends with this gift of information so they could confidently honor your wishes if the need arose. Patient advocate forms are available at the hospital information desk and at all physician offices, or you can download the Advance Directive and Patient Advocate Form from here. Learn more about Advance Care Planning.

Childbirth Education

A Birthing Center registered nurse offers many classes to expectant parents throughout the year. In addition to learning Lamaze breathing exercises, muscle tone exercises, and relaxation techniques, new parents will also receive instruction on caring for their new baby, breastfeeding, postpartum care of mom, Cesarean birth, testing done during the third trimester, nutrition, labor and delivery, and a tour of the hospital’s Birthing Center. Cost is $80 per couple. Registration is encouraged by the 20th week of pregnancy. Please register early.

Why should I sign up for childbirth education classes?

You will:

• Increase your chances for a healthy baby.
• Receive support from healthcare providers and other pregnant women.
• Learn to make smart choices for you and your unborn baby.
• Learn to take care of yourself.
• Learn about your unborn baby.
• Learn what to expect as your body changes.
• Learn when to call your healthcare provider or the Otsego Memorial Hospital Birthing Center.
• Plan now for your baby’s birth.
• Learn to take care of your body after delivery.
• Find out how to feed and care for your newborn.

Sign up for class on our Events page.

We also offer the Childbirth Preparation Class online for $50.

For more information, please call 989-731-2154.

Download the Journey to Parenthood PDF

Car Seat Safety

Important parental responsibility begins with the selection and proper installation of a child safety seat. This responsibility begins the moment you bring your baby home and continues every car ride thereafter. To schedule an inspection or for more information about this service, call 989-731-2111.

Diabetes Education

Diabetes education is an important part of successfully managing diabetes. At Otsego Memorial Hospital, we are pleased to provide a certified and recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education program taught by a certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian. Topics include:

• Diet
• Exercise and activity
• Glucose monitoring
• Medications
• Overview of what diabetes is
• Self-care recommendations

Monthly classes and individual sessions are covered by most insurances. Call 989-731-7872 to register or for more information. Learn more about diabetes and find useful resources at the Northern Michigan Diabetes Initiative website.

Freedom from Smoking Online

The American Lung Association's Freedom from Smoking program has helped thousands of smokers quit for good and is now available online.

Freedom from Smoking Online is a free, interactive course designed to educate and modify the behavior patterns of a smoker. The cessation program can be accessed day or night, seven days a week, on any schedule the smoker chooses. No waiting lists in this program — it's ready whenever a smoker wants to start the process of quitting.

Freedom from Smoking Online is based on developing positive behavior change, building a support network, and focusing on effective relaxation and weight loss strategies after quitting.

For more information, visit online, or call 800-LUNG-USA. To register for the clinic, click here.

Leap

LEAP (Learning to Eat right, get Active, and reach your Potential) provides support and education to children whose weight and activity level place them at risk for premature diseases, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, elevated lipids, or other chronic conditions.

Normal growth and development are supported during the duration of the program, while ultimately trying to decrease Body Mass Index (BMI). The program is designed for children ages 2 to 18.

For more information about the program, please call the OMH Medical Group - Family Practice office at 989-731-7860.

Wellness Wednesday

Wellness Wednesday is a walk-in health screening offered on the first Wednesday of most months in the main hospital lobby. This screening includes:

• Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Body muscle and fat percentage
• Blood pressure and heart rate
• Glucose level
• HDL
• Total cholesterol
• Triglycerides and LDL (if fasting)

Participants will receive all results and a screening card at the time of the screening. Results take about 15 minutes and include a personalized health consultation by an Otsego Memorial Hospital registered nurse. Cost of this screening is $15 per person.

Call the Community Health Education Office at 989-731-7718 to learn more.

Visit our events calendar 

Worksite Wellness

Worksite Wellness is a health screening conveniently offered at your worksite. This screening includes:

Cardiovascular Disease

• Blood pressure
• Heart rate
• Blood glucose level
• Total cholesterol
• High density lipoprotein (HDL) Level
• Low density lipoprotein (LDL) Level (if fasting)
• Triglyceride level (if fasting)
• HDL / Total Cholesterol Ratio

Obesity

• Body Mass Index
• Body fat and muscle percentages

Diabetes

• Blood glucose
• Body Mass Index
• Body fat and muscle percentages
• Body Mass Index

Participants will receive all results and a screening card at the time of the screening. Results take about 15 minutes and include a personalized health consultation by a registered nurse. All results are completely confidential. Basic screening costs are $15 per person. Custom programs can vary in cost. Flu and pneumonia vaccines also are available for an additional charge.

Contact the Community Health Education Office at 989-731-7718 to set up your business screening.

Download the Informational PDF

Free Safe Needle Drop-off

Available during Wellness Wednesdays (First Wednesday of every month)

Sharps are only accepted in a puncture-proof container
Pills and liquids are not accepted

If an FDA-cleared container is not available, some organizations and community guidelines recommend using a heavy-duty plastic household container as an alternative, such as a plastic laundry detergent container.

The container should be:

• Closed with a tight-fitting, puncture-resistant lid, without sharps being able to come out
• Leak-resistant
• Made of heavy-duty plastic
• Properly labeled to warn of hazardous waste inside the container
• Upright and stable during use

Safe Needle Drop Off Available at Every Wellness Wednesday