Uniting to Reduce the Impact of Chronic Disease

Event Summary

Start Date/Time: 9/29/2021 8:30 AM
End Date/Time: 9/29/2021 9:30 AM
Summary: RIBGH is partnering with RIDOH to capitalize on two global health observances as we unite to fight against noncommunicable diseases and bend the health care cost trend.

Event Description

Eight-six percent of health plan dollars are spent on patients with chronic diseases – including heart disease and diabetes, both of which are largely preventable. This fall RIBGH will partner with RIDOH to capitalize on two global health observances as we unite to fight against noncommunicable diseases and bend the health care cost trend:

  • World Heart Day, celebrated each year on September 29, is a global campaign during which individuals, families, communities, and governments around the world participate in activities to take charge of their heart health and that of othersHeart disease is accountable for nearly half of all noncommunicable deaths, making it the world’s number one killer. World Heart Day is, therefore, the perfect day for our community to virtually unite.
  • Created by a joint-venture between the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in 1991, World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14 and is used to bring attention to and educate people about the impacts of diabetes on human health.

This virtual event will feature a panel of experts that will empower your company with tactics to prevent and more effectively manage chronic diseases. Our panelists for this event are:

-Ernestine G. Jennings, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior. Dr. Jennings is a staff psychologist at The Miriam Hospital and an associate professor of psychiatry and human behavior at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Jennings' broad research interest is in using behavioral interventions to improve physical and mental health in both apparently healthy and known disease populations.

-Neil Goldfarb, President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health, an employer-led non-profit organization established in 2012 with the mission of developing best practices for maintaining a healthy workforce, and ensuring that when healthcare is needed it is high-quality, accessible, affordable and safe. Mr. Goldfarb brings over 30 years of healthcare research and management experience to his Coalition leadership position.

-Tom Hubbard, Vice President of Policy Research, NEHI. Mr. Hubbard joined NEHI in 2005 from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. At NEHI he is responsible for projects on coverage and payment for innovative biopharmaceuticals, comparative effectiveness research policy, Real World Evidence, medication management and patient medication adherence. He previously served as Executive Assistant for Economic Affairs to U.S. Senator John Kerry, Deputy Director of Economic Development for Governor Michael Dukakis, and Director of Community Development for the City of Gardner.

You will also learn more about the World Diabetes Day challenge, which will take place in the four weeks leading up to World Diabetes Day. This is a great opportunity to engage your employees and their families to unite with their community, take charge of their health and that of others. We look forward to seeing you on September 29 from 8:30-9:30 am.

Click here to watch the webinar. 

Employer Toolkit Resources

Rhode Island Department of Health

World Diabetes Day

NEHI Resources 

White Paper/Policy Brief “Triple Threat” Diabetes, CV, & Obesity

GPBGH Resources

Member resource guide

Novo Nordisk Resources

Novonordiskworks.comis a non-branded website that provides resources and information about the importance of chronic weight management and impacts of obesity, on market access stakeholders, and to encourage organizations to take action in providing a comprehensive approach to weight management.

TruthAboutWeight.com: is a website designed for employees/members/patients to learn more about the latest science behind weight loss and management and get answers to questions about how weight affects your health

Resource library (novonordiskworks.com): Resource Library with educational resources and tools designed to help positive outcomes with weight loss and weight maintenance within your organization

Other Resources

ObesityAction.org – this website has information on educational tools, obesity treatment and advocacy

Resources focused on addressing weight bias on the Obesity Action Coalition website 

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