just the facts
- Established in 1989 by Marlene Grass, RN and Educator
- The first and only centre of its kind in Canada.
- Devoted to providing young people and their families with continuing education and support to meet their on-going Diabetic needs.
- Until late 1999 all the Centre's revenue was raised through various fundraising activities and donations.
- The Centre provides such services as day-to-day management, counseling, in-home visits, school and teacher visits, 24/7 pager system, information on managing travel and sick days, newsletter, support groups and much more.
- Community placement for Durham College Nursing Students.
- The Centre is a resource for the instruction of nursing post-degree programmes.
- The Centre saves the health care system money. The cost of admitting a newly diagnosed Type 1 Diabetic child to the hospital is $700-$800.
- Average length of stay of a newly diagnosed Type 1 Diabetic child is 5-days.
- The cost of a 5-day stay in the hospital for one Diabetic is $4,000.
- $4,000/week x 300 children = $1,200,000.
- Saving the health care system over 12 years = $14,400,000.
- The number of Pediatric patients treated at the Best Centre = 350 approx.
- The number of young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 treated at the Best Centre approximately 400.
- The first Gala was held in March, 1999 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Best Centre, with the success of the 1st Gala it has been continued as a yearly fundraiser.