Rural Health and Nutrition Team – Health Extension Agent Ellie Lane

January 28, 2021

Health Extension is proving to be an active and helpful resource in the Greenville County community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. As a member of this team, Ellie Lane is continuing to offer chronic disease prevention and self-management health education programs to wide audiences online through Zoom. Ellie has been directly involved with delivering the Health Extension for Diabetes, Diabetes Prevention, and Hypertension Management programs since switching to virtual delivery. In addition, she has continued to produce creative and educational content focused on healthy behaviors in the form of videos, fact sheets, infographics, and social media posts.
While working from home, Ellie has:
• Graduated two online Health Extension for Diabetes cohorts (13 participants) in September and October
o Participants received weekly follow-up from Ellie to check in with their progress in the program and receive personalized health coaching to help them reach their goals.
• Continued virtual learning with one Diabetes Prevention Program cohort that began in-person in February (9 participants)
o Participants are showing excellent results at the 6-month mark as many have already met weight loss and physical activity minute goals for the program. They are also showing increases in physical activity, improved diet, lowered blood sugar levels, and improved self confidence with making healthy changes. 4/9 participants have reported lowering A1C values out of the prediabetes range at just half-way through the program.
o Participants receive a weekly follow-up from Ellie to check in with their progress in the program and receive personalized health coaching to help them reach their goals.
• Began one online Hypertension Management Program (5 participants) in October
o The next HMP cohort is scheduled to begin early November.
o Participants receive a weekly follow-up from Ellie to check in with their progress in the program and receive personalized health coaching to help them reach their goals.
• Produced HGIC blog posts and fact sheets for general public related to healthy behavior change
• Recorded physical activity videos (yoga, cardiovascular, strength-training, and resistance band workouts, etc.) for RHN and 4-H programs such as Walk SC, Diabetes Prevention Program, and 4-H Healthy Movers
• Worked with RHN team to identify appropriate sites for COVID-19 testing across SC
• Developed Food Insecurity Training curriculum for healthcare professionals and coordinated with local food pantries to connect food insecure individuals with vital resources
• Worked with PRISMA Partners to establish framework to deliver Hypertension Management Program 100% virtually