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Our Address:
BRAID / MDSi
University of Alberta
8308 - 114 St.,
Suite 4100
Edmonton, Alberta
T6G 2V2
Phone: (780) 407-1627
Fax: (780) 407-1715
mdsi@ualberta.ca
MDSi is a travelling health care service that provides testing and education for diabetes, diabetes risk and cardiovascular risk in Alberta's Aboriginal off-reserve and remote communities.
Little is known about diabetes and Metis people. MDSi is collecting the first clinical data on Alberta's Metis population. So far, MDSi has tested 25% of Metis people living in the eight Metis Settlements in Alberta.
MDSi Project Evaluations: An Evaluation of the Mobile Diabetes Screening Initiative (BIM Larsson & Associates and Allen Consulting & Training, March 2009) Evaluation 2004-2006: Final Report (Howard Research & Management Consulting Inc., January 2007) What does MDSi do?
Staff Profiles
Service. We screen people to see if they have diabetes, or if they're at risk for getting diabetes or cardiovascular disease. We can refer people for more medical attention if their screening results show any problems. We also counsel people on making healthy lifestyle choices to help reduce their risk of getting diabetes.
For people who have diabetes, MDSi offers testing to check their blood sugar levels, and we can check for signs of diabetes complications such as kidney or eye problems.
Research. MDSi research helps Communities decide what health programs they need in their Community, and helps the government making policy decisions. Our research is also finding out how diabetes is affecting Aboriginal/Metis populations in Alberta.
Who pays for this service?
MDSi is funded by Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW), and MDSi services are offerred free of charge to the Communities we visit. MDSi collaborates with the Communities, health councils, Regional Health Authorities (RHAs).What about consent?
We ask all clients to take part in our research. If clients say "yes", we add their results together with everyone else's results anonymously, and then calculate averages for the whole Community.If you decide you don't want to be part of our research, you will still get MDSi's screening services for free.
What happens when MDSi visits?
Each week, the MDSi "field team" travels out to one Community. We pack all our lab equipment and other supplies into our vans. MDSi's field team staff includes nurses, registered dietitians, and allied health professionals.The field team unloads and sets up the equipment, usually in a community hall or administration office. Before going to a Community, MDSi hires a local person from the Community to book appointments. When MDSi arrives in the Community, this local person works with MDSi for the week and calls people to remind them of their appointment.
The field team staff see people for appointments in the morning and afternoon each day. You can see what happens in an MDSi appointment here.
MDSi van parked outside our office at the University of Alberta
We carry our lab equipment and supplies with us in our vans
We travel in our vans and set up in Community health centres, rec centres, Settlement offices, or wherever there is room.
HEADLINES:
Diabetes & Pregnancy: Not something to be afraid of
