What to Do When Chronic Conditions Add Up
One in 4 Americans has multiple chronic conditions (MCC)—such as heart disease and depression—and their care costs nearly two-thirds of health care spending in the U.S., according to HHS. But health-professional education tends to focus on caring for patients with a single disease. Thus, HHS is aiming to bolster interprofessional education and training materials with the first-of-its-kind training materials on MCC, designed specifically for health professions students, faculty, practitioners, direct care workers, and patients and their families.
Related: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in a VA Polytrauma Clinic
The resources, which are available online, include:
- The “Multiple Chronic Conditions Education and Training Repository” searchable database of existing educational resources on care of people with MCC
- “Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Framework for Education and Training” conceptual model that outlines the core domains and competencies for the interprofessional health care team
- Clinical guidelines
- Current research
- Videos and podcasts
- Periodic e-mail updates on MCC
- A web-based 6-module course, “Education and Training Curriculum on Multiple Chronic Conditions”
Related: Workshops on Heart Disease and Comorbid Conditions
The site also links users to other pertinent resources, such as maps and charts on the prevalence of chronic conditions across the nation, and Medicare Chronic Conditions Dashboard(s), with statistical views of the prevalence, utilization, and spending for patients with MCC.
For more information, visit www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/mcc.