Today, we are not only faced with an economy and healthcare system that are in poor health, but collectively, as a nation, we also are in poor health. In fact, in the last two decades, our health has plummeted to the point that we are now in the midst of a health shortage that's reached epidemic proportions and is getting worse every year.
Over the last century, the U.S. has fallen from one of the healthiest nations on earth to the bottom quartile among developed nations. The disturbing reality is that we are in poorer health because of the growing prevalence of chronic diseases that now accounts for three fourths of our healthcare expenditures and two thirds of medical cost growth.
And yet, what's missing from the current debate on healthcare reform is the fact that our worsening health deficit will confound every well intended attempt to fix our current healthcare system. In other words, we cannot solve our nation's healthcare cost crisis until we simultaneously chart our course back to becoming a much healthier nation.
Reverse the prevalence of chronic disease
The future implications are clear. Any reform attempt to expand coverage will fail unless it materially improves the health of the U.S. population and reverses the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. Unfortunately, chronic diseases are much more a product of our behaviors and living environments than what happens or doesn't happen in hospitals, emergency departments, or the doctor's office. So to improve health and manage chronic diseases we must work at personal and population levels in fundamentally new ways to create the conditions and processes to promote better health. Achieving this goal at the speed and scale necessary to "bend" the trend requires a thoughtful balance of policy reforms, supply and demand side incentives, and technology innovations.
The inevitable shift toward improving personal and population health and coordinating care as a fundamental strategy to contain medical costs will fuel demand for a new generation of innovative, Internet-based Health Improvement Technologies (HiT). This new generation of technologies, if aligned with proper incentives and policies, can accelerate the return of the U.S. to healthiest nation status by digitizing, redesigning and scaling the expertise and collaborative team processes across communities that improve health and outcomes at a lower cost per capita.
What's needed for the US to become a healthier nation?
A broad-based critical mass of stakeholder leaders from industry, academia and government to change the health reform debate from "quality, affordable health care for everyone" to "affordable health for our entire country,"
As a nation, everyone needs to think more about "becoming healthier" and less about "getting care." They're equally important but too many people equate "getting care" with "becoming healthy."
An implementable blueprint and a new generation of HiT partners and to support the public policies, payment reforms, and consumer incentives that will promote a healthier nation at a lower cost per capita.
A "burst" of pilot implementations that measure, prove, and report the cost effectiveness of HiT innovations.
What is Health Improvement Technology (HiT)?
Health Improvement Technology are technology innovations that improve the health and outcomes of individuals and populations at a lower cost per capita by delivering coordinated and seamless interactions across location and devices.
What will HiT do?
For consumers...
HiT will enable them to improve their health habits, self-manage their conditions, and coordinate their care
For providers...
HiT will enable them to proactively lead and coordinate health improvement and care team processes
Other mentions of HiT in the news
Related links
Gallup/Healthways Well-Being Index
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index™ has been developed to provide the official measure for health and well-being. Over the next 25 years, the Well-Being Index will collect and measure the daily pulse of the nation's well-being and provide best-in-class solutions for a healthier world. By helping Americans understand how work impacts life and health and conversely how life affects work and health, we can work together to improve well-being for a better way of life.
Use the AHIP State and Congressional District Resource to see how your community stacks up
Alliance to make US Healthiest
A non-partisan organization that facilitates partnerships between national and grassroots efforts, fosters innovative actions, and connects individuals to spark a nationwide social movement to make the U.S. the healthiest nation in a healthier world.
Communities Leading the Way
A national repository of effective community efforts to improve health.
