Fighting Chronic Disease

"For both the physical and economic health of our country, we must bring together all sectors to find new, innovative, and cost-effective ways to prevent chronic disease.  Any funding that we spend to prevent chronic disease today will actually be a a valuable investment -- with long-term dividends."

Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S.
17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006)
President, Canyon Ranch Institute
Chairperson, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease

"Working together at the local, state and national levels, we can develop innovative, common sense solutions to our current health care system crisis.  Chronic disease prevention and management is the foundation upon which a true health care system must be built."

Ken Thorpe, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease
Robert W. Woodruff Professor and Chair, Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University

Population health improvement efforts could have an enormous impact on preventing or delaying disease onset by focusing on reducing modifiable population risk factors and health behaviors, such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and smoking. In addition, upon diagnosis of a chronic disease, disease management efforts can be employed to help mitigate its effects. Addressing how the current system encourages maintaining the status quo and realigning those incentives to encourage the changes needed to make a difference will contribute to the success of population health management.

Download the Essential Elements of Successful Programs - PDF (2.54 MB, 63 pp.)

For more information on the chronic disease crisis, please visit the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease website.