About Us
In 2001, a statewide coalition of key leaders in the fields of arthritis
and public health joined forces to address the arthritis epidemic in the
state of Pennsylvania, the leading cause of disability in the state.
The coalition developed a formal plan called the Pennsylvania Arthritis
Action Plan (PAAP). It was a new public health strategy focused on chronic
diseases that impact quality of life.
Pennsylvania Department of Health joined
forces with over 60 representatives from the state Arthritis Foundation chapters,
academic health centers, managed care organizations, physicians, health care
professional associations, rehabilitation centers, community organizations,
voluntary health organizations, legislators, and people with arthritis, to
develop the Pennsylvania Arthritis Action Plan. The Plan is a comprehensive
public health approach to reduce the arthritis burden throughout Pennsylvania
and was officially released in Harrisburg on April 28, 2003.
The Plan was
designed to alert Pennsylvanians, legislators and community leaders of the
fact that arthritis is a serious health problem and not simply a natural
part of aging. The Plan emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and
appropriate management, including exercise and weight control, to reduce
pain and the risk of disability.
Over three million Pennsylvania adults have
arthritis or chronic joint symptoms. Half of these adults are under the age
of 65. 22% of adults affected by arthritis are out of work or unable to
work and one third are limited in their ability to perform some
daily
functions.
Arthritis disease costs the state of Pennsylvania $5.9 billion a year in
direct and indirect costs. Also over 3,000 Pennsylvania children have a medical
diagnosis of arthritis.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is leading
the PAAP program for three key reasons: arthritis has a high prevalence,
exerts a high social and economic impact both physically and economically,
and there are effective interventions that are underutilized.
A key component
of PAAP is the concept of prevention measures. These prevention measures
increase the quality of life for people with arthritis, including decreasing
pain and disability, and improving physical, psychosocial and work function.
The Plan is increasing: (1) awareness of the symptoms of arthritis and need
for early diagnosis and (2) the practice of appropriate management behaviors.
The
overall goal of PAAP is to reduce the burden of arthritis and its impact
on individuals and on Pennsylvania’s economy and includes the following:
