April 2008

In this Issue: Feature | Partner Spotlight | Calendar | Welcome New Partners | In the News

Chronic Disease in California

More than 16.3 million people in California are affected by chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease and mental disorders. Among the most costly and prevalent diseases, chronic illnesses are also preventable. As the prevalence of chronic disease continues to rise, we are faced with some important decisions about how we will work to prevent and manage the conditions that affect so many in our state.

• Chronic disease affects roughly 45 percent of California’s population.
• Treatment of chronic diseases in California totaled $26.9 billion in 2003.
• Lost productivity due to chronic disease cost the state an additional $106.2 billion.
• If California continues on our current path, costs are expected to more than triple by 2023, reaching a total of $431 billion of combined treatment costs and lost productivity.
• Better prevention and disease management can dramatically change the future of chronic disease in California.
  • The cost of chronic disease in California could be cut by over $100 billion.
  • 4.3 additional cases of chronic disease across the state could be avoided.

The California Partnership for Access to Treatment (CPAT) welcomes you to look over the resources we have provided below to help you combat chronic disease in your community. We also encourage you to visit the CPAT partner list to find information and resources on a variety of chronic diseases from other CPAT partners.

(Information courtesy of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease)

CPAT Resources:

• The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease on California
• The Economic Burden of Chronic Disease on the US
• Healthy Living Toolkit
• CPAT Chronic Disease Materials:
  • The Growing Crisis of Chronic Disease in the United States
  • An Unhealthy Truth - Rising Rates of Chronic Disease and the Future of Health in America

Share Your Story – Sharing Miracles

People, or ones they love, are often challenged by serious illness or disease. It is important people know that they are not facing medical issues alone. Encouragement comes in many forms and from many different faces – sympathetic words from a friend, support from a loved one, understanding from a nurse or a doctor. Sharing Miracles is another avenue for people to find and give encouragement to others. The Sharing Miracles Web site and blog allows people to share their personal stories of hope and survival, and comment on the stories of others.

Every patient's battle is unique, but the collective power of shared experiences can offer great help and courage to others who are fighting for their lives. Sharing Miracles is designed to raise awareness about medical advances that improve the quality of people’s lives. To learn more about Sharing Miracles, please visit www.sharingmiracles.com.

If you are interested in sharing your story of hope and survival, please contact Amy Wall at (916) 658-0144 or awall@perrycom.com.

Los Angeles Free Clinic

Mission
The Los Angeles Free Clinic, in collaboration with strategic partners, provides dependable and affordable quality health care and human services in a caring environment for the underserved and those who are most vulnerable.

About
In 1967, The Los Angeles Free Clinic occupied a single storefront office with the goal of serving young people who had nowhere else to turn for medical care. Today, the clinic is a highly regarded health and human services organization with three sites, 125 employees, more than 400 volunteers, and thousands of supporters. The Los Angeles Free Clinic provides nearly 80,000 patient visits to 22,000 individuals each year. The Clinic is a safety net for the uninsured and working poor who live throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

Web site
www.lafreeclinic.org

Counterfeit Medicines: What You Need to Know

Friday, April 18, 2008
Noon - 2:00 pm
Salvatore Restaurant
125 N. 6th St., Montebello, CA
Co-hosted by the Latino Diabetes Association
Please RSVP to Andrea at: (323) 466-3445 or e-mail: andrea_s@cerrell.com

Monday, April 21, 2008
Noon - 2:00 pm
Community Health Partnership
100 North Winchester Blvd, Ste. 250, Santa Clara, CA
Co-hosted by the San Jose Foothill Family Community Clinic
Please RSVP to Kristen at: (916) 658-0144 or e-mail: kristen@perrycom.com

The PPA 'Help is Here Express' Bus will be visiting California in May. Check the CPAT Calendar of Events for more information on dates and locations. You can also find out about upcoming partner conferences, seminars, fundraisers, and other activities in your area. If you would like your event listed, please contact Kristen at kristen@perrycom.com

• Allen Temple Baptist Church - AIDS Ministry
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – District IX
• American Liver Foundation – Northern California
• Angel Flight West
• Arriba Juntos
• Asian Resources, Inc.
• Black Coalition on AIDS
• Breathe California of the Bay Area
• Breathe California of Los Angeles County
• California Breast Cancer Organizations (CABCO)
• California Senior Advocates League
• Central Valley Regional Center, Inc.
• Chicano Consortium
• Community Health Alliance of Pasadena
• Department of Managed Health Care
• El Centro Del Pueblo
• Epilepsy California
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation – San Francisco
• Maternal Outreach Management System (MOMS)
• New Christian Direction Center
• Our Community Works
• Our Lady Queen of Angels, La Placita Church
• Philippine Nurses Association of Southern California (PNASC, Inc.)
• San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• SHWTC, Inc. – Community Health Action Network
• Sickle Cell Community Advisory Council
• Wellness Company Healthy California
• Yolo Community Care Continuum
• and 9 individual partners

UCI Studies Electronic Treatment for Pain, Depression
Orange County Register
March 6, 2008
University researchers prepare to test new technology to combat pain, depression, tremors, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Read the full article

UCLA Launches Network To Study Health Care Disparities Affecting Minorities
UCLA
February 28, 2008
The UCLA Department of Family Medicine, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has launched the Network for Multicultural Research on Health and Healthcare, a group that will study health care disparities affecting minorities with chronic diseases. Read the full release

Disability: Economic Costs and Insurance Protection
AGIS
When these chronic conditions are a cause of the inability to perform one or more necessary occupational tasks, work hours and earnings are likely to be limited, and wage growth over a person's lifetime will be less than if work were not limited. Read the full article

Effective Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Initiatives Can Reduce Health Disparities
PR Newswire
February 26, 2008
Local communities can be effective in preventing health disparities in such chronic diseases as cancer, diabetes and heart disease if they use healthy eating and active living initiatives that adhere to five strategic principles identified by leading national programs. Read the full article

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