The Time Is Now For A Consumer Health Movement

Throughout history, social movements have galvanized wide-scale improvements in population health and quality of life. HIV/AIDS activists banded together to strengthen social services for patients, educate the public about the disease, and compel research and treatment investments that have relegated the condition to a chronic, manageable disease. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (now called simply Susan G. Komen) brought the issue of breast cancer out of the shadows, raising billions of dollars and saving lives by making whole families aware of the importance of prevention and early detection. Thanks to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the Buckle Up Campaign, we’re all safer when we hit the road or go for a walk. But what ignites social health movements? What inspires the masses to reject the status quo, change behavior, and fight for something better? At the Jewish Healthcare Foundation (JHF), we’re convinced that activated health care consumers are the key ingredient in sparking a movement—and they’re also the antidote to our population health woes. Activated consumers claim ownership of their well-being. They seek information on ways to prevent diseases, on diagnoses, and on treatments. They track progress toward their health goals and make wise choices each day related to diet, exercise, and sleep. They crave a relationship with providers, rather than a list of orders. And, as Health Affairs chronicled earlier this year, activated consumers ach...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: GrantWatch Health Professionals Population Health Quality Consumers Health Philanthropy Health Promotion and Disease PreventionGW HPV Patient Engagement Physicians Pittsburgh Source Type: blogs