Some Healthcare News and Views

December 12, 2014

December 12, 2014

Results were released last week from a Pfizer and Cancer and Careers survey done with Harris Poll. The online surveys were conducted from June 9-23, 2014 and survey data underscore the messages highlighted in the recent event (Cancer and Employment: Managing Work During a Health Crisis) and white paper (Facilitating Full Employment Opportunity for Employees with Cancer: A Call to Action) from the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) and ThinkAnthem. Some highlights of the survey’s findings include:

• Women with breast cancer want to continue working during treatment;
• 77% of working women with breast cancer feel working aids in their recovery; and
• Nearly half of women surveyed (48%) felt that the disease and its treatments have negatively impacted their work life.

Last week’s blog post from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) was about multiple chronic conditions (MCC) among older people and highlighted information about funding opportunities from NIA. In an effort to promote research towards effective strategies for older people struggling daily with MCC, the main goals of the effort focus on evaluation of treatments, understanding of safety and effectiveness, and measurement of outcomes. NIA is looking for applications aiming to:

• Gather and organize information to help older MCC patients understand the risks, benefits, and prognosis associated with their conditions;
• Identify interventions and conduct studies towards implementation in primary care;
• Quantifying measurement standards on whether certain behavior changes can help patients prevent or manage multimorbidity, with improved outcomes; and
• Conducting healthcare research on management of MCCs in a variety of different settings and during transitions of care.

The Wall Street Journal last week injected greater insight into the vital importance of physical activity to overall health and wellness. “Doctors Dole Out Prescriptions for Exercise,” details Exercise for Medicine, a program overseen by the American College of Sports Medicine and in which PFCD partner, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has been directly involved. This global effort encourages primary care doctors and other healthcare providers to make physical activity a priority when assessing a patient case and devising treatment plans. This program is another positive step to better coordinate care that will measurably improve health outcomes and move the needle in the fight against chronic disease.

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