Overview:
The
Campaign For Better Care knows that better coordination
means better care! This growing movement of patients,
caregivers, and advocates is working to ensure that
we all realize the promise of health reform by ensuring
that the new legislation is implemented in ways that
make care better for patients, especially older people
with multiple health problems and their family caregivers.
This means advocating for a system in which doctors
and other health care providers are encouraged to talk
to one other, share results and diagnoses, and engage
patients and families in their health care.
Research:
The
Campaign commissioned a national survey of Americans
age 50 or older, conducted by Lake Research Partners
and found that many experience problems related to a
lack of communication and coordination.
- Three
in four respondents (74%) have wished that their doctors
talked and shared information with each other.
- 40
percent of people who take five or more medications
and one in three people age 50 or older say their
doctors do not talk to them about potential interactions
with other drugs or over-the-counter medications when
prescribing new medications.
- 36
percent of heavy users of the health care system,
and 20 percent of people age 50 or older, say they
have received conflicting information from different
doctors.
- One
in eight (13 percent) respondents has had to redo
a test or procedure because the doctor or hospital
did not have the earlier results.
- Three-quarters
of heavy users of the health care system (76 percent)
have left a doctor's office or hospital confused about
what to do at home.
Basically,
lack of care coordination leads to costly, unsafe, ineffective,
duplicative, and wasteful care. We can do better.
2011 Policy Priorities:
- Reduce
avoidable readmissions by reducing hospital acquired
infections and increasing effective care coordination
and care transitions
- Promote
new models of care, e.g. Patient Centered Medical
Homes, Accountable Care Organizations, and make sure
needs of older adults and those with chronic conditions
are addressed in these new models of care
- Promote
home and community based services
- Defend
Affordable Care Act as strategy to achieve better
care
Get involved!
The Campaign is mobilizing a consumer movement of and
for older adults and individuals with multiple chronic
conditions to advocate for the comprehensive, coordinated,
patient- and family-centered care they need and deserve.
Be a part of the Maine Campaign for Better Care. Contact
Mitchell Stein at Consumers for Affordable Health Care
at 207-622-7083 or mstein@mainecahc.org
to learn more or join the campaign.
National
Partners:
National Partnership for Women & Families
Community Catalyst
National Health Law Program
Maine Partners:
Lead, Consumers for Affordable Health Care
Alzheimer's Association - Maine Chapter
American Heart/Stroke Assoc.- Founders Affiliate
City of Portland Minority Health Program
Direct Care Alliance- Maine Chapter
Eastern Area Agency on Aging
Maine Council of Churches
Maine Council of Senior Citizens/ARA
Maine Equal Justice Partners
Maine Parent Federation
Maine People's Resource Center
Maine Women's Lobby
…and many individual patients and family caregivers
Stories
about the real-life experiences of older adults and
their family caregivers will help the public, policymakers
and others recognize the urgent need for better care.
- Are
you a family member or friend who arranges, coordinates
or provides care for an older adult with multiple
chronic health conditions?
- Are
you an older adult experiencing multiple health problems
yourself?
- Are
you experiencing problems coordinating your own care
or the care of a loved one?
- Are
you seeing numerous physicians, taking multiple prescription
medications, and receiving duplicative tests and procedures
along with all the other challenges of your daily
life?
- Do
you have difficulty getting clear information from
your health care providers?
Share your story with us!
