The Elephant in the Room: Depression & Chronic Illness

Despite its many human and financial costs, depression is a chronic disease that is under-recognized, undertreated and poorly managed. Yet the prevalence of depression in the general population may be higher than previously thought—with estimates of 19% in Canadian studies.
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Improving & Simplifying Care for Patients with Complex Conditions or Comorbidities

In the US, it is estimated that approximately 10% of patients account for 70% of total direct health care expenses. These patients also incur significant indirect costs due to excess disability, premature or avoidable institutionalization and burden to family caregivers.
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Can Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) Reshape Health Care?

The Patient Protection and Affordability Act of 2009 (health care reform) includes the accountable care organization (ACO) as a promising new collaborative framework for physician practices, hospitals and other health care organizations. ACOs provide new incentives for sharing cost savings across service settings and providers.
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US HHS Awards $27 Million for Disease Self-Management Programs for US Seniors

State aging units and area agencies on aging will be playing a more active role in supporting disease self-management with the US Health & Human Services (HHS) Department's award of $27 million for the Communities Putting Prevention to Work Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSM) Program.
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New England Journal of Medicine Article Cites Adherence Support as a Key Priority for Health Care Reform

While gaps in the delivery of evidence-based medical therapies are common, increasing attention is being devoted to what many experts regard as an equally important, yet unrecognized problem: poor medication adherence.
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Obesity Alliance Surveys Find Primary Care Practices Not Prepared to Help Patients Manage Weight

The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance recently released a white paper on innovative approaches for obesity management in primary care. The paper noted that while primary care physicians recognize their role in addressing obesity, they report that they lack the necessary weight management resources.
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HealthSciences Partners With Pennsylvania Homecare Association in Chronic Care Initiative

The Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PAHA) and HealthSciences Institute are collaborating to deliver the Chronic Care Professional (CCP) certification and staff accreditation program to Pennsylvania's home health care agencies.
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Maine Area Agency on Aging Program Completes Chronic Care Professional (CCP) Staff Accreditation

Elder Independence of Maine (EIM)--a division of SeniorsPlus, the Area Agency on Aging for western Maine--recently achieved Chronic Care Professional (CCP) staff accreditation, demonstrating the preparation of their staff in person-centered, evidence-based chronic care support.
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BCBS of Illinois Hosts Third CCP Conference

Planning is underway for a third Chronic Care Professional (CCP) conference for population health improvement staff at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL).
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CCP Online Video Library Expanded:
Motivational Interviewing in Health Care Series Planned

HealthSciences Institute currently offers the largest available online motivational interviewing (MI) video library to all participants enrolled in the Chronic Care Professional (CCP) certification program.
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LinkedIn Community Launched for Population Health Improvement Professionals

Looking for a place to network with your colleagues working on the front-line in wellness, chronic care improvement and care management programs in health plans, health systems and medical homes?
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Resistance is Not a Patient Problem: Practical Skills for Better Adherence

Join us on May 7th for the fifth free Population Health Improvement Learning Community event: "Resistance is not a Patient Problem: Practical Skills for Better Adherence" with NIH-funded motivational interviewing expert Dr. Susan Butterworth View the press releass >>

Workplace Wellness Programs Save $3.27 in Health Care Costs for Each Dollar Invested

More companies are offering workplace disease prevention and wellness programs. In 2006, 19 percent of companies with 500 or more workers reported offering wellness programs. A 2008 survey of large manufacturing employers reported that 77 percent offered some kind of formal health and wellness program.
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US Preventative Services Task Force Releases Guidelines for Obesity Screening and Intervention in Children & Adolescents

Since the 1970s, obesity in children and adolescents has increased three- to six-fold. Today, 12% to 18% of children and teens aged 2 to 19 years of age are obese based on body mass index (BMI) ratings. Obesity in children and adolescents increases risk for a number of chronic diseases such as diabetes in later, or in some cases, early life.
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ADA Releases 2010 Diabetes Care Guidelines

On December 29th, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) released the 2010 updated guidelines for diabetes. One of the major changes is that the ADA is now advocating the use of A1C testing for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
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Improve HF 24 Month Progress Report:
Improvement on Six of Seven Heart Failure Performance Measures

Results from the HealthSciences Institute-supported IMPROVE HF study (The Registry to Improve the Use of Evidence-Based Heart Failure Therapies in the Outpatient Setting) were announced at the Heart Failure Society meeting in late 2009.
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New InFocus Series:
Evidence-Based Health Coaching

Is health coaching “pop psychology” or an effective approach for addressing the behavioral factors that are responsible for most chronic disease-related risks and consequences?
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Dr. Rick Botelho Appointed to Advisory Board:
Initiative to Focus on Self-Health of Health Care Professionals

HealthSciences Institute welcomes Rick Botelho, MD, Professor of Family Medicine and Assistant Dean of Faculty and Student Development at the new College of Medicine (Florida International University, Miami), to the HealthSciences Institute advisory board.
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