August 17, 2011

As the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) works to increase awareness of the number one cause of death, disability and rising health care costs, there is increasing urgency in the news media for Americans to address the spectrum of issues contributing to and resulting from chronic disease.  With a variety of obstacles threatening the health and care of the young and old alike, advancing discussions and promoting solutions for how we should approach this growing problem must continue.

• Just one of the many concerns is how America’s health care system is going to keep up with the baby boomers generation.  As our demands on our health care system increase so will the expenses. Given the country’s current financial crisis the need for a more holistic approach to health care is imperative.
• We must remember is that most chronic diseases are preventable, and we can avoid them.  By making better choices every day when it comes to our health and activities, we lower our risks of developing diabetes, heart disease, and many other illnesses.  Better choices at home can positively impact the wellness of an entire family and can encourage future generations to make good health a priority. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.  As the summer months wind down and back to school approaches even small steps can make a difference – take control of your family’s health and of what’s in your child’s lunchbox.
• A recent Deloitte Center for Health Solutions survey states that while more than half of the American population has a chronic disease that almost two-thirds of Americans believed they were in “good” or even “excellent” health.  Despite this disparity, on a more encouraging front, there are many community-based programs working to help patients manage chronic illness.
• Deploying innovative health information technology can help bridge gaps and support coordinated care for patients struggling with one or more chronic conditions.

Optimizing a variety of strategies to address the woes of our health care system and the overall health of Americans is essential if we are to reverse the increasing trend of chronic illness. PFCD welcomes you to share information with us, and perhaps more importantly with your local elected officials and news media, about the successes of your programs and infrastructures that are making a difference in the fight against chronic disease.