Larry King And Health Leaders Address Child And Adult Obesity In Our Communities
"Obesity is the most common answer I am hearing to my questions about the state of poor health in the United States, especially in our young kids. It is critical for us to better educate families on how to eat better and give people better tools to help themselves. To hear that our kids' lifespan is going to be shorter than their parents' due to poor eating habits is unthinkable. We have to do something," said Larry King, talk show host and founder of the Larry King Cardiac Foundation.
The Southern California Health Leadership Panel's meeting - Health Crisis: Obesity and its Effect on Public Health Care Systems. What's Next? - was hosted by Larry King and the Larry King Cardiac Foundation in partnership with Los Angeles-based COPE Health Solutions, the Los Angeles County + University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Healthcare Network and the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Today's panel is meant to raise awareness of a health crisis that is preventable if children and adults have access to knowledge and health care critical to maintaining a healthy way of living. Being overweight or obese accounts for an estimated 3.43 billion in health care expenditures annually, or 9% of total health care costs (LA Public Health, 2003).
Health fair attendee Marla Aguilar found out through her blood screening at the health fair that her cholesterol was somewhat elevated. Her realization that this may be due to her dietary decisions for her family could have lifelong positive benefits for her and her three year old son Derek. "I am very happy with the friendly service that I have always received at LAC+USC Medical Center," said Ms. Aguilar, "I feel they are really taking care of me and my son."
The health panel was followed by a Road to Health Fair at the new LAC+USC Medical Center in Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles. Attendees took part in free health screenings, such as blood pressure and bone density tests. Families were also encouraged to learn about the Camino de Salud Network of clinics. This Network not only improves the health of patients through enhanced access to and coordination of care, but it is a healthcare model that encourages those without a primary care home to find their nearest community clinic.
"By providing these residents with a primary physician at a local health clinic through the Camino de Salud Network, people are getting the care they need and we are potentially saving lives," said Allen Miller, CEO of COPE Health Solutions, program developer.
To find a clinic near you visit, www.lacusc.org/CaminoDeSalud.
"At LAC+USC Medical Center, we want to provide the best medical services plus more. Our partnership with COPE Health Solutions and the community clinics for the past three years has brought a wealth of information and guidance to the people of our community. As long as we can educate people about different health crises like obesity - and encourage them to find the right care, at the right place, at the right time by finding a health clinic in their community for routine care and help managing chronic diseases - then we will continue to host these fairs," said Pete Delgado, President and CEO of LAC + USC Healthcare Network.
The Larry King Cardiac Foundation was established in 1988 to provide funding for life-saving treatment for individuals, who, due to limited means or no insurance, would be otherwise unable to receive the treatment and medical attention they so desperately need. www.lkcf.org.
COPE Health Solutions is a Los Angeles-based, non-profit healthcare corporation with a mission to - Make Communities Healthier. In partnership with the LAC + USC Medical Center, COPE launched the innovative and proven Camino de Salud/Healthy Road Network. Through the Network, every patient is provided with a primary care home and care is coordinated between the clinic, hospitals, and specialists in order to maximize access to care and minimize unnecessary duplication and expensive services. COPE and its partners are redefining managed care not only in Los Angeles, but also in Kern County, Washington, D.C., and other communities throughout California and the country in order to make health care more accessible and affordable for everyone. http://copehealthsolutions.org.
Among the largest teaching hospitals in the country, LAC+USC has been a partner with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1885. Staffed by more than 500 full-time faculty of the Keck School of Medicine and approximately 900 medical residents, LAC+USC currently admits more than 40,000 inpatients and handles nearly 200,000 emergency department visits and 1 million ambulatory care visits each year. The medical center provides major regional and community emergency trauma and critical care services among other clinical care activities. Construction of the $1 billion LAC+USC Medical Center Replacement Facility is now complete and opened on November 7.
USC.s Keck School of Medicine trains tomorrow's leaders in patient care and biomedical research and provides advanced health care to the people of Southern California at USC.s 45-acre Health Sciences Campus. The Keck School is proud of its historic partnership with the LAC+USC Medical Center, where USC physicians care for patients at one of the country largest teaching hospitals. The Keck School of Medicine is also home to the USC Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute, an innovator in cardiac patient care. www.usc.edu/keck
Larry King ºi Sãnãtate Liderii Adresa de copii ºi adulþi Obezitate În comunitatile noastre - Larry King And Health Leaders Address Child And Adult Obesity In Our Communities - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate