If you suffer from arthritis, you are in good company. Nearly 40 million Americans currently have the disease, and this total is expected to increase by 50 percent by the year 2020. Worldwide, arthritis is one of the most prevalent diseases, affecting an estimated 10 percent of the population and 50 percent of people over 60 years of age.
What the Numbers Demand
As yet, there is no cure for arthritis. However, significant progress is being made in the mangement of this debilitating disease, and Searle is committed to playing a leadership role in helping persons with arthritis live their lives to the fullest.
We have introduced medications that relieve pain, reduce inflammation and improve function, as well as prevent treatment-related complications. In addition, the Searle Global Arthritis Initiative has brought together an international team of experts dedicated to the research and development of new compounds that will raise the state-of-the-art in medical care to an even higher level.
But we know that total arthritis care must involve more than drugs. What is required is an approach that integrates drug therapy into a coordinated program of essential interventions including exercise, diet and social support. Here are a few examples of how we have set out to fulfill that need:
Searle Patient Partners in Arthritis®
Who is better equipped to help persons with arthritis cope with their disease, as well as to educate doctors about patients' special needs, than a patient herself? The Searle Patient Partners in Arthritis® program has trained more than 500 individuals with arthritis to serve as educators among fellow patients, medical students and physicians. For fellow patients and their families, Patient Partners work with Searle to lead community forums, develop educational materials and — in some cases — act as counselors in managed-care plans for the newly diagnosed. For medical students, they help teach the fine points of a thorough joint exam, while emphasizing the importance of building rapport with their patients. For physicians, Patient Partners speak at symposia, at medical conventions and in individual offices — using their arthritic joints as teaching tools to reinforce diagnostic skills and the importance of doctor-patient communication.
The Arthritis Connection
The Arthritis Connection is designed to teach persons with arthritis and their families how to use the latest computer technology — the Internet — to enhance involvement in their own healthcare. There are three ways to participate:
Searle Total Patient Management in Arthritis®
This comprehensive library of print, video and computer-based educational materials was developed with the help and input of members of Searle's Patient Partners program. Featuring practical, easy-to-follow information on aspects of arthritis management ranging from diet and exercise, to talking to your doctor, to joint replacement, the entire series of materials is available to users of Searle arthritis-care products. In addition, selected educational materials are available to participants in our new public-service program, Arthritis Connection.
Searle is proud to be your preferred partner in arthritis care, and is committed to expanding that role in the future.
For more info on these stories, contact Pam Rasmussen ([email protected]) at (847) 470-6163. For press releases older than six months, search Searle's press-release archive.
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(Note: Information offered by discussion group participants may not be medically accurate and does not necessarily reflect the beliefs or knowledge of Searle or its employees. Please discuss any medical information gleaned from Internet discussion groups with your physician.)
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