Institute of Medicine Report Calls for Greater Focus on Quality of Life for Those With Chronic Illness

February 3rd, 2012

With the incidence of chronic illness in the U.S. nearing epidemic proportions, too little is being done to improve, or even maintain, the quality of life of chronically ill Americans, according to a newly released Institute of Medicine report, Living Well with Chronic Illness: A Call for Public Health Action. 

“(M)aintaining or enhancing quality of life for individuals living with chronic illnesses has not been given the attention it deserves by healthcare funders, health systems, policy makers, and public health programs and agencies,” the report notes. “Moreover, the aging of the population will only increase coming challenges.”

The new IOM report calls for reducing the burden of chronic illness by developing and implementing coordinated strategies to help Americans with these illnesses live well. It calls for greater efforts to: better understand and meet the needs of people living with chronic illness,  encourage the adoption of effective community-based interventions, improve preventive clinical guidelines for chronic illness, and enhance health systems so they help people live well with chronic illness.

Modified On: February 3rd, 2012