The claim that multiple chronic conditions (MCC) cannot be addressed in current disease activities means that the current health system is not built to cater to such conditions. According to Wallace et al. (2012), the contemporary health system “was built around an episode-of-care model since the days of family doctors making house calls for the periodic care needs of families they served” (p. 485). However, chronic conditions are not episodic, which means that they do not fit in the available care system models. MCCs are long-term, and thus they require continuous monitoring and assessment together with extensive patient education as part of integrating patients into healthcare and making them active participants in ensuring their health and well-being.
Therefore, several steps should be taken and policy decisions made as a way of introducing a population approach for MCC. Consequently, clinical care should be integrated into public health practice focusing on the quality of care that patients receive. The first recommendation is to focus on evidence-based interventions to prevent the occurrence and progression of chronic diseases. The vital action points involved in this case include leading a healthy lifestyle, such as ending smoking, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, and exercising regularly to limit excessive weight gain (Wallace et al., 2012). The next step would be creating healthcare models and strategies that ensure quality in public health.
The Institute of Medicine (2013) defines quality in public health as “the degree to which policies, programs, services, and research for the population increase desired health outcomes and conditions in which the population can be healthy” (p. 2). Therefore, there is an overarching need to design and implement policies that advance living well for those suffering from chronic diseases. Such policies should address the physical, social, economic, and psychological impacts of chronic diseases on individuals and populations.
The concept of living well should have a holistic view of health to ensure that those with chronic diseases experience physical, social, mental, and spiritual well-being. According to the recommendations by Wallace et al. (2012), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should first select the different chronic illnesses that require special attention, due to the heterogeneity of such conditions.
Specifically, the CDC should focus on illnesses that cause health and physical impairment to the affected individuals. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should collaborate with state governments to develop comprehensive strategic plans to achieve specific goals and objectives within set timelines based on the underlying community needs. In addition, the involved authorities should increase surveillance and other programs to cover as many chronic illnesses as possible and address the issue of health disparities in care provision.
Above all, the concerned authorities should gather enough data about chronic illnesses, their heterogeneity, and the diversity of the affected individuals and communities. This aspect will facilitate better planning, development, and implementation of evidence-based mitigation measures based on the available resources. The focus should be on deploying surveillance techniques that capture MCCs effectively. For instance, Wallace et al. (2012) suggest that the CDC should conduct longitudinal studies as they are likely to highlight hidden relationships, including both identifying and quantifying how different risk factors could influence the progression of different chronic illnesses. These recommendations will reduce the heavy burden associated with chronic illnesses by acting appropriately to help the affected persons lead quality lives.
References
Institute of Medicine. (2013). Toward quality measures for population health and the leading health indicators.
Wallace, R., Ackermann, R., Basen-Engquist, K., Berkowitz, B., Callahan, L., & Chernoff, R. (2012). Living well with chronic illness: A call for public health action. Military Medicine, 180(5), 485-487.