239632 Interdisciplinary Carative Care Curriculum Offers Robust Foundation for New Health Care Workforce and Improved Health Care Outcomes

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Eileen L. Sullivan, PharmD , Health Services Department, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA
David B. White, PhD, MPH , Health Services Department, Saint Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA
In today's medical environment, we witness a shift from acute care to chronic care in the United States and surrounding countries. With the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and in spite of GOP efforts to repeal, it is apparent that a paradigm shift is occurring in the American health care system. Public health practitioners and advocates are embracing the Obama plan as one step closer to a true public health model because: 1) 32 million formerly uninsured Americans are being provided coverage; 2) the system is finally focusing on prevention, through economic incentives and continuity of care and; 3) models to treat chronic illness are being implemented. By 2020, we anticipate that 1/2 of the US population will suffer from a chronic health condition with 80% of health care costs required to manage these conditions. This transition, acute to chronic, is known as the A2C shift (Singh, 2008). With the A2C shift, a new medical workforce will be necessary to transition from a “curative” education to a “carative” education (patient living and coping with the disease). St. Joseph's University (SJU) Philadelphia PA has developed a unique curriculum focusing on the carative model of health care with emphasis on public health disease prevention. Instituted within the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Services (IHS) this curriculum includes an interdisciplinary education to include study abroad and service learning in the field. SJU has been on the forefront in preparation of workforce development embracing A2C long before the concept was instituted.

Singh, M. Chronic Care Driving a Fundamental Shift in Health Care Supply Chains. In: A Research Paper from the Center for Transportation & Logistics. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. October 2008:1-4.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe a unique educational curriculum focusing on the carative model of health care with emphasis on public health disease prevention.

Keywords: Chronic Illness, Curricula

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I have participated in the development and implementation of the said curriculum within St. Joseph's University
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.