LIVINGWELL SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES Changing the Space of Healthcare

Alarming Rates of Preventable Chronic Disease. The U.S. healthcare system has historically placed a disproportionate emphasis on the treatment of existing illnesses and symptom management in comparison to preventive care, resulting in increased emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and healthcare costs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“the CDC”), “six out of every ten adults in the United States have at least one chronic disease, and about four in ten have two or more chronic diseases”—chronic diseases are conditions that occur for one or more years and necessitate ongoing medical care, including diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, cancers, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. These conditions are also among the leading causes of death, accounting for 70% of all deaths in the U.S.”   At the same time “five of the top 10 leading causes of death in the US are, or are strongly associated with, PREVENTABLE and TREATABLE chronic diseases”.

Ballooning Healthcare Costs. Aside from the pain and suffering associated with chronic disease, a study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion  found that “a lack of movement accounted for $192 billion in annual healthcare costs, an $80 billion increase from a similar study completed in 2015”.³ Despite spending the most on health care among developed countries, the U.S. generally has lower life expectancy, higher infant and maternal mortality, more chronic disease, and higher rates of preventable deaths than most peer nations. With the incidence of chronic disease on the rise for decades now, along with unprecedented reductions in healthcare spending, the U.S. healthcare system is in a heightened state of crisis.

Disparate Rates of Chronic Disease and Life Expectancy. African Americans experience significant health disparities compared with other populations across a range of conditions and outcomes. Research indicates that African Americans are substantially more likely to have chronic diseases such as diabetes (72% higher likelihood), obesity (23% higher likelihood), and asthma (20% higher likelihood). African Americans also face higher mortality rates from several major illnesses, including cervical cancer (52% higher), breast cancer (40% higher), heart disease (25% higher), stroke (44% higher), and prostate cancer (twice as high). In addition, African American women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications, while African American infants are 2.5 times more likely to die before their first birthday. In Chicago, these inequities contribute to major differences in life expectancy. A 2022 study by the Illinois Department of Public Health found that African American residents live an average of 11.4 years fewer than other Chicagoans. The gap is driven primarily by higher rates of chronic disease, homicide, opioid overdoses, and infectious diseases. The study also highlighted stark geographic disparities: many communities on Chicago's West and South Sides have life expectancies of 69 years or less, while some North Side communities have life expectancies ranging from 75 to 78.3 years.

Inadequate Access to Preventive Care Services. Financial, logistical, informational, workforce, and coverage barriers prevent access to effective preventive healthcare solutions, including affordable medically-integrated fitness and nutritional services.

Healthcare Workforce Shortages. As of June 30, 2024, there were 7,501 designated primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in the U.S., with nearly 75 million residents (about 22% of the population) living in those areas.” More-timely treatment can improve health outcomes.