If you have been waiting for a break in the heat or rain to get outside, check out the forecast for next week. Tuesday, August 8^th is predicted to be sunny, dry, and mild. A perfect day to reconnect with old friends, meet some new ones, learn new knowledge, and explore opportunities to build and support others in building self-advocacy skills at our BHC Member Luncheon.

The luncheon will cover timely health care topics, presented by leaders from the National Kidney Foundation and a guest appearance from Missouri’s first Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Heidi Miller. As a St. Louis practicing primary care physician, Heidi dedicated her career to improving population health for those facing challenging social disparities. Having accepted the role of Missouri’s first Chief Medical Officer (CMO) only eight months ago, Heidi has a call to action for St. Louis employers. Eager to connect with employers, Heidi will make a guest appearance to share how the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is addressing a critical population health concern among its own employees.

Advocacy is a critical life skill, particularly for anyone with a chronic illness. When we don’t feel well because of a chronic condition or other health concerns, we can feel helpless in finding solutions and uncertain about the overall state of our well-being. Having a relationship with a trusted Primary Care Provider is crucial in preventing progression of serious medical conditions, creating space to be heard as a patient, and keeping your personal health within your control. Yet, research demonstrates that when medical guidelines and treatment opportunities advance it can take years, 17 to be exact , for most physicians to become aware of the changes and adapt their medical practice accordingly. Unfortunately, too many people do not receive a medical diagnosis and appropriate treatment until their condition has progressed beyond repair.

This is currently the case with chronic kidney disease. CKD is a growing health concern that currently affects 1 in 7 Americans or an estimated 37 million Americans. It has been deemed a “silent killer” due to the lack of symptoms that manifest in the body until the disease has reached its late stages. Screening protocols, lifestyle interventions, and treatment options have advanced in recent years, but medical practice has not. “Crashing into dialysis” is an expensive and all-too-common occurrence. This event means that patients learn of their kidney failure shortly before facing a dire decision: dialysis or die— yet their kidney function has been diminishing for years, without any action to prevent or slow the damage.

Elizabeth Montgomery, National Vice President, Learning Strategies and Population Health Programs at the National Kidney Foundation, will present on the importance of advocacy in healthcare using kidney disease as an example of necessity for system-wide improvement. To expand your knowledge on this topic and hear what your peers and colleagues are doing to help their employees understand their health care needs and ensure their diagnosis and treatments are timely, please join us for lunch.

Warm regards,

Louise Y. Probst
BHC Executive Director