Local Nurses and Nursing Students Invited to Attend Fun, Free Diabetes Education Event at UPMC Shadyside

PITTSBURGH , January, 2008 — Local nurses and nursing students are encouraged to attend UPMC Shadyside’s “Super Sugar Bowl,” a football-themed, competitive event to showcase the hospital’s diabetes education initiative. Event kick-off will take place at 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8 at the Herberman Conference Center, 5150 Centre Ave., Shadyside.

After months of training, UPMC Shadyside nurses will compete to see who has learned the most about diabetes. The event is part of a quality-improvement initiative, paid for by a grant from the Shadyside Hospital Foundation, to improve the care of patients with diabetes who are admitted to the hospital.

“Education is the key for nurses to make positive differences in the lives of all patients,” said Renee Thompson, coordinator of the initiative and director of academic service partnerships for the UPMC Center for Nursing Excellence & Innovation. “The Super Sugar Bowl shows how we at UPMC Shadyside have worked to gain the knowledge needed to give the best care to our patients with diabetes.”

This unique quality improvement project, initially designed for UPMC Shadyside nurses, has attracted leaders, physicians and support staff from across the UPMC system. Representatives from the Pittsburgh chapter of the American Diabetes Association will attend the Super Sugar Bowl, along with other sponsors, to further promote diabetes education.

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. For more information or to register, please call Ms. Thompson at 412-647-7919.