Center for Health Transformation Georgia Project

As a follow up to the Microsoft HealthVault project "Be Well Columbus, Georgia" a video has been posted on the Microsoft HealthVault website highlighting the project.  Columbus, Georgia joins other health stories on the Microsoft website that embody Microsoft's vision to improve health around the world through software innovation.  Congratulations to the Columbus Research Foundation for leading this effort and getting Georgia 'on the map!'

Be Well Columbus, Georgia Awards Ceremony

The Be Well Columbus, Georgia Awards Ceremony was held on May 18th at Arnold Magnet Academy, school of the winning homeroom.  The Be Well Columbus, Georgia Project is a pilot project instituted through the Muscogee County School District 7^th graders and was made possible by a grant the Columbus Research Foundation received from the Microsoft HealthVault Be Well Fund.  During a three month period from January 17 until April 24, 2009, participating students were encouraged to increase their physical activity as they took a virtual walk across the United States and to check their daily meal, snack and drink intake.  This data was logged on the Be Well Columbus, Georgia/Walk to Microsoft website, which was developed specifically for this project. 

 

After words from Mayor Jim Wetherington, Bill Reid of Microsoft Corporation, Laura Linn of the Center for Health Transformation, Mike Gaymon of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Valerie Fuller of the MCSD, and Susan Wood of the Muscogee County Council of PTA's, awards were presented to the students by Royce Ann Adkins and Pam Tinkler of the Columbus Research Foundation.

 

First place went to Mrs. Ronda Allen's homeroom at Arnold Magnet Academy.  The 7th grade students in this homeroom were the first to log enough miles walked to reach Bellevue, Washington, home of the Microsoft Corporation.  The 2nd place winner was the homeroom of Mrs. Sara Davis at Marshall Middle School; 3rd place went to the home room of Mrs. Melissa Niemi at Arnold. 

 

The overall goal of the project was to teach and instill healthy lifestyle choices in the area’s adolescents, thereby preventing diabetes and other metabolic disorders associated with being overweight.  Over 1000 students participated in the project.  It was encouraging to see adolescents engaged in their health.  This project serves as a great model for other communities interested in improving the health of their children.

Increasing your Activity

One of my colleag ues and I are trying out a new technology that is aimed at increasing non-exercise activity.  According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 60% of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese.  Studies conducted over the last 20 years to determine both the causes of obesity and the reasons for the continued increase in the U.S. obesity rates determined that our society has become more sedentary, that non-exercise movement has decreased to a point where many Americans are taking in more calories than they are able to burn. The belief is that the key to reversing this obesity trend is to add physical movement back into a person's day. This is not "organized exercise" such as running or working out but rather it is taking the stairs, walking and generally being more active.

The Gruve device is a small omnidirectional accelerometer that measures activity intensity and duration.  It provides a personalized, quantifiable measure of activities and the calories burned throughout the day.  Synchronizing the device with the Gruve web site gives you the ability to view your own daily calorie burn and track your weight loss progress.  The device also tracks your progress towards your daily goal and lets you know with a colored light system how you are progressing.  You can get more information on this interesting solution for increasing activity at www.muveit.com/ .  We will keep you posted on our evaluation.

How Are You Getting in Shape This Year? Any 'Miis' out There?

I am a real fan of the Wii Fit product as a way to increase activity and get into shape.  I started with the Wii Fit software last June and have advanced to Jillan Michaels' Fitness Ultimatum 2009.  Both programs allow you to set fitness goals and track your progress.  The workouts can be modified to meet your needs - from weight loss to strength training.  For me the 'defining moment'  was having to face the metrics - the Wii Balance Board doesn't lie.  Seeing the weight and BMI on the graph was a real wake up call.  The round little Mii wasn't so easy to face, either.  After 7 months my 'Mii' is looking better and so am I.  Let us know how you are meeting your fitness goals this year!

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.

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

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