Print“Our challenge and opportunity is to avoid preventable diseases from occurring in the first place.”
The U.S. government unveiled new 10-year goals and objectives for wellness and prevention. As part of the effort, it challenged software developers to create web-based applications for stakeholders—professionals, advocates, funders, and decision makers—who will be using the program to improve the health of the nation.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People initiative has been committed to improving the quality of Americans’ health by producing a framework for public health prevention priorities and actions for the past 30 years. The newly released 2020 goals add new areas of focus including genomics, dementias, sleep health, and social determinants of health.
“The launch of Healthy People 2020 comes at a critical time,” says Kathleen Sebelius, HHS Secretary. “Our challenge and opportunity is to avoid preventable diseases from occurring in the first place.”
Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are responsible for seven out of every 10 deaths among Americans each year and account for 75 percent of the nation’s health spending. Many of the risk factors that contribute to the development of these diseases are preventable.
The initiative comes at a critical juncture for the country as it grapples with mounting costs of healthcare, much of it due to preventable conditions.
“Too many people are not reaching their full potential for health because of preventable conditions,” says Howard Koh, assistant secretary for Health with HHS.
The Healthy People initiative is driven by the principle that setting national objectives and monitoring progress can motivate action. In the last decade, preliminary analyses indicate that the country has either progressed toward or met 71 percent of its Healthy People targets.
Goals are set after input from public health and prevention experts, a wide range of federal, state and local government officials, a consortium of more than 2,000 organizations, and the public. More than 8,000 comments were considered in drafting a comprehensive set of Healthy People 2020 objectives.
December 02, 2010
http://www.burrillreport.com/article-pushing_for_prevention.html
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