…”the American people have just unambiguously endorsed a particular vision for the country, revealing an appetite for widespread changes, including to the U.S. public health system.” Is to me an overstatement considering the current administration received 49% of the vote. This is hardly unambiguous.
One could argue that over the last 60+ years there are areas where we have made significant improvements in prevention and treatment of chronic illness and there are other areas where improvement is still needed. In our library I found a copy book called Prevention of Chronic Disease (1956). The book was written by a voluntary group called the Commission on Chronic Illness, published for the Commonwealth Fund, by Harvard University Press. The Commission was supported by many advocacy groups like the American Cancer Society, professional organizations like the American Medical Association, industry trade groups like the American Hospital Association, big pharma like Eli Lilly and even insurance companies like Metropolitan Life.
The challenges of preventing chronic illness outlined in 1956 remain today. Most improvements been in areas where long term diseases could be controlled by prevention, diagnosis, and treatment by sanitation, control of communicable disease, and improved safety practices
Nevertheless in medical and related professions and among the population there is "still a lack of persistent and insistent awareness of asymptomatic forms of chronic illness, the complications of chronic illness, and the biological, social, and environmental factors associated with chronic illness".
One issue in 1956 was access to periodic and careful health examinations with appropriate laboratory testing. The access to these examinations and healthcare with good rapport between the person and the provider remain today.
In 1956 and today prevention of severe forms of chronic illness depended on early detection. But the problems with early screening tests for early detection like sensitivity, specificity, and the number needed to screen to find one case of disease remain elusive.
There are components of healthy living and health promotion where improvements in areas like nutrition, housing, well-balanced personal habits, a productive role in society, education, safe and healthy work environments, and a sense of personal security which could further reduce the burden chronic illness in our country.
…”the American people have just unambiguously endorsed a particular vision for the country, revealing an appetite for widespread changes, including to the U.S. public health system.” Is to me an overstatement considering the current administration received 49% of the vote. This is hardly unambiguous.
One could argue that over the last 60+ years there are areas where we have made significant improvements in prevention and treatment of chronic illness and there are other areas where improvement is still needed. In our library I found a copy book called Prevention of Chronic Disease (1956). The book was written by a voluntary group called the Commission on Chronic Illness, published for the Commonwealth Fund, by Harvard University Press. The Commission was supported by many advocacy groups like the American Cancer Society, professional organizations like the American Medical Association, industry trade groups like the American Hospital Association, big pharma like Eli Lilly and even insurance companies like Metropolitan Life.
The challenges of preventing chronic illness outlined in 1956 remain today. Most improvements been in areas where long term diseases could be controlled by prevention, diagnosis, and treatment by sanitation, control of communicable disease, and improved safety practices
Nevertheless in medical and related professions and among the population there is "still a lack of persistent and insistent awareness of asymptomatic forms of chronic illness, the complications of chronic illness, and the biological, social, and environmental factors associated with chronic illness".
One issue in 1956 was access to periodic and careful health examinations with appropriate laboratory testing. The access to these examinations and healthcare with good rapport between the person and the provider remain today.
In 1956 and today prevention of severe forms of chronic illness depended on early detection. But the problems with early screening tests for early detection like sensitivity, specificity, and the number needed to screen to find one case of disease remain elusive.
There are components of healthy living and health promotion where improvements in areas like nutrition, housing, well-balanced personal habits, a productive role in society, education, safe and healthy work environments, and a sense of personal security which could further reduce the burden chronic illness in our country.
Wonderful read, thank you. It is so important to acknowledge the need for preventative care and for action beyond health policy.
Please follow these
Thank you so much for this. Looking forward to part 2.
wonderful — thank you very much for this