For more than 20 years, HealthPartners has analyzed clinical and claims data to improve preventive care, manage chronic diseases and promote healthy behaviors. Recently, the Institute and health plan partners considered the notion that overall health is more than not having a disease or being physically fit. Well-being and life satisfaction play an important role. But how can they be measured?<\/p>\n
In 2015, the Institute supported development of a measure that assesses elements of well-being such as job satisfaction, strong social connections and financial security.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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,\u201d said Thomas Kottke, MD, Medical Director for Well-Being for HealthPartners and Institute Senior Investigator.<\/p>\n
The analysis of the measure helps identify and address conditions that create the highest burden of disease and have the greatest impact on the health and well-being of patients and health plan members. The measures can also guide community projects to focus on the biggest gaps and needs.<\/p>\n
Details of the new measure were published by the National Academy of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease.<\/em><\/p>\n\n
Investigators<\/h2>\n