2009 Initiatives: Prevention
In 2009-2010, the Washington Health Foundation (WHF) has made Prevention a priority initiative of its Healthiest State Campaign, as well as one of its specific policy recommendations for National Health Reform.
While we’ve been encouraged by our state ranking rising to #10 in 2008, receipt of preventive care is one of the few measures in our 2008 Healthiest State Report Card that moved in the wrong direction. In this measure—a composite of adequate prenatal care, childhood immunizations, fluoridation, mammography, cholesterol screening and colorectal cancer screening—we have dropped to 32nd nationally.
Integrating Prevention into the National Health Reform
debate is a challenge. To prevent disease and promote wellness, we must make changes
across a broad spectrum. A few examples:
· changing personal behaviors;
· workplace and school wellness programs;
· community planning to remove barriers;
· redesigning the health-care system; and
· drafting policy changes at the local, state and national levels.
Partners in WHF’s Prevention Initiative include First Choice Health Network, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MultiCare Health System, PeaceHealth, PEMCO Financial Services , Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the Washington Dental Service Foundation. In addition to contributing to the Healthiest State Prevention efforts, our partners are engaged in many of their own efforts to increase receipt of preventive care.
Use of Clinical Preventive Services in Washington – A Healthiest State Research Project
With the assistance of graduate interns Megan Nordeen (MSW) and Erica Coppel (MPH), and the guidance of WHF Director of Policy, Don Sloma, our ongoing investigation has produced a Draft Summary of Key Findings.
National Resources
Recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Guide to Clinical Preventive Services
Learn More
To learn more about the Prevention Initiative, please contact Lorna Stone at 206-438-6118 or LornaS@whf.org.
