Nearly 40 percent of all Americans – more than 125 million people – live with chronic diseases and disabilities. Take a minute and think about your family and friends. How many people do you know with

·         A heart condition?

·         Diabetes?

·         Cancer?

·         Breathing problems?

·         Arthritis?

·         Or any other chronic illness?

People with chronic diseases are different from the average consumer, who is generally in good health.

Much of the dialogue about health care reform uses terms like “right choices for good health” and “healthier lifestyles.” The NHC agrees strongly that preventive health care must be a core element in any comprehensive health plan. However, those with chronic conditions seek answers that will provide a chance for a more normal life, a possibility to live longer and feel better. They want health care that meets their unique personal needs.

Oncology professionals probably do the best job of trying to accommodate a patient’s individual life agenda rather than focusing on just “curing” the body.

A woman in her 40s with breast cancer wants to live a long life and see her children grow up. A woman in her 80s with the same breast cancer diagnosis probably is more concerned about her quality of life in the here and now. This is why the National Health Council has created the Campaign to Put Patients First. Health care must be patient focused. The Aspen Health Stewardship Project report states that the health span of a patient has been subsumed by the quest for a longer life span. And a longer life span may not be what a patient ultimately desires.