Center for Health Transformation Georgia Project

Georgia Dept of Community Health Launches Consumer Web Site!

The GA Department of Community Health [DCH] launched a new web site today that will empower consumers to make educated decisions about their health care.  GeorgiaHealthInfo.gov provides health care quality, cost and health education information. 

The initiative is funded through the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services’ Medicaid Transformation Grant.  The culmination of the work of the Health IT and Transparency Board, CHT commends DCH Commissioner Rhonda Medows and her team on this accomplishment. 

This first phase of the web site allows users to access Mayo Clinic health education content (prevention, wellness and disease management information), cost and quality comparison data for hospitals, cost data for common outpatient procedures, cost comparisons of prescription drugs, and quality rankings for health insurance plans.  Users are also able to obtain the location of and driving directions to hospitals, pharmacies and outpatient centers from their homes using a mapping function.  The second phase of the Web site will include expanded provider profile information and the addition of a decision support tool for long-term care.  This phase is set to be completed by the summer of 2009. 

Visit the website at www.GeorgiaHealthInfo.gov.

Metrics

As we work through our 21st Century Healthy Communities to change the health of the community we are constantly searching for ways to measure progress.  One tool that is available is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Diabetes Surveillance System.  County level estimates of numbers of adults diagnosed with diabetes and percentage of adults diagnosed with diabetes are now available at  http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDT_STRS2/CountyPrevalenceData.aspx?StateId=13.  The site is easy to use and allows the data to be downloaded in multiple formats. 

Metrics are critical in community based initiatives.  We would be interested in hearing from you about the measures you are following to assess the impact of your community initiatives.

Just Move!

Obesity is a growing problem in the U. S.  According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 60% of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. A major focus of the CHT 21^st Century Healthy Community Project is to decrease the incidence of obesity in the communities.  We are constantly evaluating solutions to identify those that have proven success in improving the health of individuals. 

One organization that has a great solution for corporations to address the obesity issue is Muve, Inc. Formed in 2007 with the goal of reversing the obesity epidemic in the United States and globally, Muve, Inc. has based their solutions on studies that have determined that a major cause of our obesity epidemic is our society becoming more sedentary.  This results in a decrease in non-exercise movement to a point where many Americans are taking in more calories than they are able to burn.  They support that the key to reversing the obesity trend is to add physical movement back into a person's day - not "organized exercise" such as running or working out but rather taking the stairs, walking and generally being more active.

The term used for this type of activity is N.E.A.T. – Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.  According to Mayo Clinic research N.E.A.T. is defined as all activity that occurs during a 24 hour period that is not exercise specific activity.

The key to weight management is to accurately measure and proactively increase your N.E.A.T. level.  The components of the Muve solution is threefold – [1]  a device that you wear on your waist that accurately measures your personal caloric burn throughout the day; [2] an interactive website that allows you to track your daily progress; and [3]  support and motivation through coaches.

 

For more information on this innovative solution visit www.muve.me

NCQA Diabetes Recognized Physicians in Georgia

To prevent the devastating complications of diabetes, NCQA encourages the provision of comprehensive, quality health care to people with diabetes through the Diabetes Physician Recognition Program (DPRP). DPRP, developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the     American Diabetes Association (ADA), awards recognition to physicians who demonstrate that they provide high quality care to patients with diabetes.

A major goal of the CHT Georgia Project is to increase the number of physicians in Georgia who are recognized by NCQA for quality diabetes care.  Over the past three years we have increased that number from 5 to 190.  WellStar Health System led the way with over 60 of their physicians receiving DPRP recognition. 

We believe that patients receiving care from DPRP recognized physicians will be much more likely to receive the recommended care, have decreased complications, improved health and cost less to manage their care.  A Towers Perrin reportestimated a potential savings of $1,059 when blood pressure, HbA1C, and LDL control measures are met. 

Columbus, GA: Microsoft HealthVault Be Well Fund Grant Recipient

Childhood obesity is growing and its associated medical problems are recognized as one of the most important health issues in children and adolescents in the United States. From 1995 to 2004, the prevalence has increased in boys from 14% to 24% and in girls from 15% to 26%. As obesity increases, rates of diabetes and pre-diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol (lipid) disorders are increasing. It is also particularly alarming that the blood pressure of children and adolescents has increased over the past decade.

As one of 12 national recipients of a Microsoft Be Well Fund grant, the Columbus Research Foundation and Columbus Regional Medical Center are developing a Microsoft® HealthVault™ application and associated web resources to develop a program for 7th grade students in Columbus, GA to learn positive lifestyle choices and follow and record their own personal lifestyle modifications.  The goal of the project is to improve the diet choices and level of activity of the children.  This competition is city-wide and includes all public 7th grade classes. The program will use caloric intake, personal activity, and an interactive map of the United States to show students how far their class has walked as a group along the path from Columbus, GA to Microsoft headquarters in Bellevue, WA. 

This program is an opportunity for 7th grade students in Columbus, Georgia to learn positive lifestyle choices, follow and record their own personal lifestyle modifications and compete in a city-wide program for lifestyle improvement. Each student will create an account and design an avatar to resemble them. They will then record their daily meals and snacks which will make the avatar either shrink or grow depending on what was consumed that day.

The project will launch in January of 2009.

Follow the progress of the Columbus Be Well Fund Grant Project at http://walktomicrosoft.com/default.html

Import Knowledge - Oklahoma City Project - This City is Going on a Diet!

The Mayor of Oklahoma City, Mick Cornett, put his city on a diet last New Year's eve.  http://www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com/ The project has received a lot of attention and serves as a great model for communities interested in coming together to improve the health of their citizens.  Mayor Cornett's goal in establishing this initiative is to bring awareness to the problem, introduce programs to help cure it, and inspire all citizens to become healthier and lose weight.  Individuals log on to a website and share their progress and stories.  Total pounds lost to date equal 263,137 - an average of 10.59 pounds for each of the 24,844 registered participants. 

Gainesville, GA HealthSmart Expo 2008

The Center for Health Transformation was a sponsor of the 2008 HealthSmart Interactive Health & Wellness EXPO.  Held on October 8th at the Georgia Mountains Center, the event was kicked-off at a luncheon featuring Barbara Dooley, wife of legendary football coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs Vince Dooley.  Barbara gave a motivational presentation highlighting her recent experiences as a breast cancer survivor.  Combining humor with an honest discussion of the healthcare system and the impact that a diagnosis has on the entire family, Barbara encouraged the attendees to live each day to the fullest and to let those whom you love know it.

The luncheon was catered by Scott’s on the Square with a special focus on healthy selections.  Chef Scott Dixon launched the HealthSmart Restaurant Challenge.  Over 28 local restaurants are participating in the challenge.  Healthy choices will be indicated by the ‘I’m HealthSmart’ logo.  Each time an individual makes a healthy selection it will be indicated on a punch card.  When the card is complete, the individual will be able to take it to the Chamber of Commerce to trade it for prizes.

The Expo followed with health screenings, educational sessions, and exhibits for the community.  The Center for Health Transformation sponsored glucose and lipids screening through a grant from Novo Nordisk.  

Kit Dunlap, President of the Greater Hall County Chamber, Mimi Collins. Head of the Healthcare Subcommittee, and their team deserve congratulations for this innovative approach to community wellness.  We at the Center for Health Transformation look forward to continuing to work with them and following the impact they are having in improving the health of the citizens of their community.