UHS/UTHSC clinics team up for national program to make patients better
Ten U.S. centers selected to find best ways to change bad behaviors in patients
(SAN ANTONIO - March 14, 2006) It's no secret that many Americans are having a hard time following all the recommended healthy behaviors. Smoking, poor diets, too much alcohol and a lack of exercise are all leading to an increase in serious problems like diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. In response, the University Health System (UHS) and The UT Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSC) are part of a new initiative, called Prescription for Health, which aims to promote better health and reduce health risks.
Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, UHS and UTHSC teams are among 10 sites across the U.S. joining forces to ultimately help all Americans lead healthier lives. The project links patients with behavioral risk factors to interventions at the practice, health system, and community levels.
The trial in San Antonio includes University Health System's Southeast, Southwest, North, Downtown, and the primary care clinic at the Texas Diabetes Institute, as well as the UT Medicine Family Medicine clinic in the medical center area.
The study goal is to see if medical assistants can help busy physician practices more effectively address risky health behaviors in patients. The program's effectiveness will be evaluated by assessing the number of patients reached, interventions requested, as well as costs to the practices and the impact on health behaviors.
For more information about the project, visit the website at www.prescriptionforhealth.org.
