Event Archive

Local Residents Participate in Launch of National Web-based Video Campaign: “Say ‘Yes’ to Health Reform”

Citizens of Ohio and across the country expressed their support for health reform that prioritizes prevention and wellness with the launch of “Say ‘Yes’ to Health Reform” (www.sayyestohealthreform.com) – an online video campaign of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) directed at Congressional leaders in Washington.

The campaign Web site features video testimonials of residents of Ohio and 16 other states across the nation who talk about why they “say ‘yes’” to comprehensive health reform that tackles issues of affordability, access and quality brought on by our nation’s high rates of poorly prevented and mismanaged chronic disease – and why they “say ‘no’” to the status quo.   

The PFCD, which has chapters in 17 states across the country including Ohio, has been active in the health reform debate throughout this year and during the presidential election, to inform national and local leaders about the crisis of chronic illness and how it is impacting Americans’ health and the affordability of health care.
 
Across the nation, 130 million Americans suffer from chronic disease – and 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care goes to treat patients with one of more chronic conditions. In Ohio, more than 6.7 million residents suffer from at least one of the top seven most common chronic conditions. The total costs, including direct expenditures (e.g., health care costs) and indirect costs (e.g., lost productivity), related to these seven chronic diseases alone amount to $56.8 billion.

While these figures are staggering, the newly-released Web-based video campaign puts a human face on the issue in an effort to draw the attention of national policymakers so – now that they are back in Washington – do not lose sight of the concerns of the everyday Americans they represent.

“It was imperative for me as a family physician to participate in the “Say ‘Yes’ to Health Reform” campaign because every day, I see firsthand the many Ohioans who need preventive care. Many chronic diseases and illnesses can be treated and avoided if patients have a patient-centered medical home led by a personal primary care physician,” said Sarah Sams, M.D., president-elect of Ohio Academy of Family Physicians and associate director of the Grant Family Medicine Residency Program in Columbus. “Any health care reform must be built on the cornerstone of primary care and convert our present ‘sick care’ system to one that emphasizes prevention.”

To date, the “Say ‘Yes’ to Health Reform” campaign features over 100 videos submitted by residents of Ohio as well as Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin. The video testimonials represent a diverse mix of concerned individuals – from patients and caregivers, to physicians, nurses and other clinicians, to business owners and local leaders. Many live with a chronic illness or care for a chronically ill family member.

Through the remainder of the health care debate, the campaign Web site will be continuously updated with new video testimonials, which will be sent to Congressional members representing those states or districts.