Americans consume 80% of painkillers, but represent only 5% of the world’s population. This trend is growing to epidemic proportions. Since 2010, the number of heroin deaths and arrest have tripled in Indiana alone, as reported recently to the US House by Dr. Robert DuPont, a former White House Drug Chief.
With over 300 million US citizens today, there were 259 million prescriptions written for pain in 2012. The medical profession has decided to track this problem to understand it better. We already have the numbers to support addiction centers but do not understand basic resources available for pain management.
As the drug problem grows, so does chronic diseases related to poor health habits. Americans consume a diet loaded with toxins that cause inflammation and pain. This inflammation leads to the following diseases:
Chronic Pain, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, stroke, hypertension, Arthritis, infections, respiratory diseases, dementia, mood disorders, fatigue, macular
degeneration, cancers, bowel problems such as colitis and irritable
bowel syndrome, Autism, lower IQ, and early aging.
Americans are willing to pay for fast and convenient foods, cosmetic surgery, supplements, vitamins, gym memberships, trips to the medical doctor for pills, purchase over the counter drugs unregulated by the FDA, and a new wardrobe for changing sizes. But, do we understand the changes that have occurred over time to limit our daily performance. All of a sudden, we can’t walk as far as we use to.
The secret for better health may be easier and is available. Effective wellness programs help people live their lives while increasing work productivity. Wellness programs run by a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) provides alternative wellness programs without a script pad. Most American’s have not received alternative methods to reduce pain and suffering. Imagine pain free living for millions of Americans.
The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist recently submitted a letter to the Committee on Finance in Washington DC reporting the wealth of quality efforts this group has to offer the American people. CNS’s have a Master’s Degree in Nursing and are experts in caring for people and in a position to care for Americans to reduce chronic pain and chronic diseases to reduce health care cost.
The CNS has extensive knowledge of medications, herbs, over the counter medication, medical treatments, and management of chronic diseases. The key to the CNS’s tool box are alternative approaches to finding and treating the underlying cause instead of just writing scripts and sending people on their way. Follow- up is essential to identify if the method worked.
Mary Ann Wietbrock is an RN and board certified as a CNS. She is an expert in chronic disease management, is a nutritionist and physical trainer, and provides comprehensive onsite worksite wellness programs. Her programs provide basic health screenings, individual one on one coaching, health fairs, monthly group activities, and data analysis to show a return on investment. She specializes in providing special needs to companies such as medical interpretive services for the central Indiana area which has a diverse population.
She can be contacted at www.cardinalelements.com.
www.nacns.org/docs/FinanceChronicCare.pdf
Services has been limited for the CNS due to the requirement of physician supervision and they are not able to apply for insurance to support the practice of basic wellness services. Currently, only 16 states allow the CNS to work independent of the physician. The other 34 states have not yet extended this service causing delays, discoordination of services, and multiple prescriptions written daily for pain that may be relieved with alternative methods.
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