Two national healthcare reports issued

The Department of Health & Human Services and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality issued the results of the 2006 National Healthcare Quality Report and National Healthcare Disparities Report. Both of these reports found that use of proven prevention strategies needs to be improved:

Fewer than half of obese adults reported being counseled about diet by a health care professional. About one-third of American adults are obese, increasing the risks of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart disease and osteoarthritis. The Task Force recommends "intensive counseling and behavioral interventions" for obese adults.

Only 48 percent of adults with diabetes received all three recommended screenings—blood sugar tests, foot exams and eye exams—to prevent disease complications. AHRQ estimates about $2.5 billion could be saved each year by eliminating hospitalizations related to diabetes complications.

On a bright note, the National Healthcare Quality Report found that quality has improved for hospital care for heart attack patients by 15 percent and by 11.7 percent for pneumonia patients. Click here to read the entire press release. Click here for the National Healthcare Quality Report, and here for the National Healthcare Disparities Report. Okay, that's enough clicking for a Friday!
:)