DAHLONEGA, GA -- According to a study performed by Johns Hopkins University, nearly 50% of Americans have a chronic medical condition; chronic illnesses cause 70% of deaths in the United States and generate 75% of the total healthcare costs in the U.S. annually. Among seniors, 90% have at least one chronic disease and 77% have at least two.
Gregg Hake stated, “Our antiquated healthcare system is struggling to deal with these facts, yet things only seem to be going from bad to worse. Patients are unhappy. Doctors are unhappy. Our approach doesn’t seem to be solving the problem and some argue that it may even be worsening it. Nobody is winning. Taking the same approach to the problem and expecting a different outcome is not an option. Modifying the payment system (aka the current healthcare reform efforts) may help to temporarily alleviate the symptoms of our ailing system, but it obviously won’t address the cause. “
The CDC notes that, “Chronic diseases – such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis – are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems in the U.S.” The CDC goes on to state that, “Four modifiable health risk behaviors- lack of physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption-
Mr. Hake suggested a new approach to primary healthcare - one that emphasizes prevention (before) over intervention (after), stating that, “As with so many challenging situations, the tools and resources are available and at hand.” He suggested that as we look further back in the chain of cause, we (as a nation) can begin to reverse the disturbing trends surrounding chronic healthcare.
Hake poses a challenge to practitioners, inviting them to join him in considering a new approach to primary healthcare and encourages them to share their ideas on the Energetix blog (http://blog.goenergetix.com).
