CRITICAL ISSUES IN HEALTH

1. CRITICAL ISSUES IN HEALTH COVIA L. STANLEY, M.D., M.Div. Regional Health/Medical Director – Region 6 S. C. Department of Health & Environmental Control 1931 Industrial Park Road Conway, South Carolina 29526 Telephone: (843) 915-8804 Email: stanlecl@dhec.sc.gov Website: www.klmba.org Click on “Notes From the Doctor”

2. It Is Well Known That African Americans Have An Increased Amount Of Health Problems. • Chronic Diseases, Diabetes, Hypertension, and Hypercholesterolemia • Cardio-vascular diseases (stroke, disability, death) • Cancer ( Breast, Prostate, Colo-rectal, lung, cervical, GI) • STDs (HIV/AIDS, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Herpes and Hepatitis C) • Immunizations ( Seasonal flu, H1N1, Hepatitis B, • childhood) • Infant Mortality/Prematurity

3. EPIDEMIOLOGY • The study of disease in populations – causes, distribution, control, prevention • Statistics associated with life style • Poor Nutrition – more sugar, less fiber, vegetables, fruit • Less physical activity • Obesity • Stress • Genetics

4. INTERVENTION • Primary – Education about disease and how to prevent. (e.g) Diabetes $ • Secondary – Monitoring and maintaining state of disease.(e.g) Diabetes A1C $$ • Tertiary – Complications of disease, require hospitalization, surgery, amputation, dialysis. (e.g) Diabetes $$$$$ (infinity)

5. HEALTH CARE REFORM • LOWER COSTS FOR AMERICAN FAMILY • Insurance Industry Reforms that Save Families Money • Bars insurance companies from dropping people from coverage when they get sick. Restricts the use of annual limits in all new plans and existing employer plans this year, until 2014, when all annual limits are prohibited. • Will have a cap on what insurance companies can require beneficiaries to pay in out-of-pocket expenses, such as co-pays and deductibles.

6. 2.Financial Relief for Working Families • a)Tax credits to working families to make sure they can afford quality coverage. • b) Cracks down on excessive insurance overhead starting in 2011 by applying standards as to how much companies can spend on non-medical costs, such as bureaucracy, executive salaries, marketing, and provides a rebate to consumer if non-medical costs are too high. • 3. Ending the “Hidden” Tax on American Families • Covers more Americans. Reduces the cost–shifting where medical providers shifts costs of uninsured to private insurers which is passed on to families thereby increasing premiums.

7. 4. Greater Choices for American Families • One-stop shopping to put families in charge • More affordable choices and competition • Ends insurance company discrimination • Extends dependent coverage • Insurance security if job is lost, if you switch jobs, move or get sick • Independent appeals process

8. 5. Quality, Affordable Health Care for all Americans • Preventive care for better health. Cover preventative and wellness at no charge. • Invests in prevention and public health to encourage innovations in health care that will PREVENT illness and disease. • Increases the number of primary care practitioners, including doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians assistants. Website:www.whitehouse.gov, click on Blog, scroll to “What Health Care Means”. Click on interested population.

9. ~ ADVANCE DIRECTIVES ~ • Wills (including a Living Will and a Healthcare Power of Attorney with a “Do Not Resuscitate Statement”) • Organ Donations • Family meetings to discuss family health history and end of life and palliative care. • Conventions, associations and church gatherings to address above topics when people have cool heads, ability to think and digest information; thereby, being informed to make rational and wise decisions.

10. PREVENTION • Go to the doctor annually • Active role in exercise, eating nutritiously, take medication as prescribed, bed rest/sleep • Mental health, stress reduction, domestic violence and suicide prevention and more relaxation • Garden – plant, cultivate, harvest