HealthPartners developing new measure of health to include well-being
Details published in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
journal
BLOOMINGTON, Minn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HealthPartners is expanding the way it assesses health to include
well-being. It is developing a summary measure of health and well-being
and details are jointly published by the National Academy of Medicine
and by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Preventing
Chronic Disease.
For more than 20 years, HealthPartners has been analyzing clinical and
claims data to improve areas such as preventive care, management of
chronic diseases and healthy behaviors such as not using tobacco, being
physically active, moderate use of alcohol and eating fruits and
vegetables.
Building on that approach, HealthPartners is focusing on a measurement
that will be used to improve health and well-being. An annual survey
that began in 2015 measures members level of life satisfaction. The
survey asks members about seven areas that affect well-being: emotional
and physical functioning, career satisfaction, having adequate finances,
having good social relations, community support and having a sense of
meaning and purpose.
Summary measure of well-being
The survey information is part
of the summary measure that consists of three components:
- Disability or years of life lost to death before age 75
-
Life-style choices such as physical activity, sleep, diet and alcohol
and tobacco use - Subjective well-being and life satisfaction
“This can help more accurately assess our progress on improving health
and well-being because health is not just the absence of disease, it is
having an overall positive life experience,” said Tom Kottke, MD, who
was recently named Medical Director for Well-Being at HealthPartners.
Kottke is a cardiologist and also serves as a Senior Clinical
Investigator at HealthPartners Institute.
National and international measures of well-being
Other
organizations that measure well-being include the Organization for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In 2013, the
OECD established the first set of guidelines that look beyond a
nation’s economic performance to provide a broader picture of
well-being. . In addition, the Gallup-Healthways
Well-Being annual report ranks 189 communities on well-being. In the
2015 report, Minnesota ranks in the top 10 states in the nation.
HealthPartners plans to develop a measure of well-being for children and
adolescents in the next 3-5 years.
Contacts
HealthPartners
Patricia Lund, 952-883-5487
Media Pager:
651-629-0411
patricia.a.lund@healthpartners.com
