Pfizer Health Solutions in collaboration with Hartford Hospital has launched the Amigos en Salud program to serve the Hartford Latino population who are newly diagnosed with diabetes. It is estimated that 12% of Latinos in Hartford and 6.5% statewide suffer from this disease.

Amigos en Salud, translated as "Friends in Health," is a Latino-focused health care initiative designed to help reduce health disparities among Latinos with diabetes and associated cardiovascular disease. Health promoters, who provide peer-to-peer health education and support, work with newly diagnosed patients in their language and focus on cultural beliefs, behavior change strategies, and the use of health literacy-appropriate materials.

"Newly diagnosed patients often feel anxious and overwhelmed by the diet and lifestyle changes required; not to mention heightened concerns about how diabetes will affect their families. We help them face these changes by working with them to understand disease complications and monitor their health within their cultural context," stated Noemi Cruz, Amigos program coordinator.

Taken in combination, this strategy is expected to increase patients' desire and ability to achieve health goals and behavior change that has the potential to improve the quality and length of their lives. Patients will receive their own health record card and be encouraged to become more involved in health care decisions.

Scott Wolf, program medical director at Harford Hospital, explains "this program affords us an opportunity to examine successful strategies for empowering patients to become proactively involved in adopting and maintaining healthy living practices. The awareness gained by patients and health practitioners alike, enhances health care delivery to the Latino communities."

Nationally, 13.6% of all Latinos over the age of 20 have diabetes, almost twice the rate of whites, and can develop pre-mature complications leading to possible death because of a general misunderstanding of the disease and difficulty in embracing the long-term behavior change required to manage the disease.

Julia Portale, director of community health at Pfizer Health Solutions, explains that "the sheer complexity of diabetes and the fear or other barriers to care that patients must overcome requires a multi-pronged strategy to work effectively in partnership with them. Program participants will have a unique healthcare experience with the support and tools to help patients have long-term success."

"Hartford Hospital is deeply committed to medical innovation and enhancing community education. Through our collaboration with Pfizer, we are pleased to be part of new intervention programs that emphasize culturally relevant care," commented Hartford Hospital President and CEO John Meehan.