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<p>Serious mental illness places a tremendous burden on clients, their families, and behavioral and medical health care providers. The co-occurrence of diabetes with mental illness may further compromise daily functioning. Psychiatric nurses can make a significant difference in improving the health and medical outcomes of this client population. A partnership was developed between the University of Rochester School of Nursing and the Western New York Care Coordination Program to evaluate a novel nursing model for adults with both serious mental illness and diabetes mellitus. The Well Balanced program incorporated health promotion, disease management, nursing care management, and evidence-based practice guidelines into 8 Steps to Wellness for a community-based mental health population. During a 16-visit intervention period, psychiatric nurses interacted with 74 clients. As a result of the program, clients experienced improvements in health risk status and in their hemoglobin A1C and reported high satisfaction with the Well Balanced program.</p>
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<p>Dr. Chiverton is Dean and Professor, and Vice President, Strong Health-Nursing, Dr. Lindley is Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing and Director of Research and Development for the Center of Nursing Entrepreneurship, Ms. Tortoretti is Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing and CEO of the Center of Nursing Entrepreneurship, and Dr. Plum is Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York. Dr. Plum is also Director, Office of Mental Health, Monroe County Department of Human Services, Rochester, New York.</p>
<p>The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity, including research support. </p>
<p>The authors acknowledge Eva Bellis, BSN, RN, CCM, and Marlene Downs, BSN, RN, CCM, for their many contributions to the success of this program.</p>
<p>Address correspondence to Patricia Chiverton, EdD, RN, FNAP, Dean and Professor, School of Nursing, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box SON, Rochester, NY 14642; e-mail: <a href="mailto:Patricia_Chiverton@URMC.Rochester.edu">Patricia_Chiverton@URMC.Rochester.edu</a>.</p>