More than Medicine: March 2009 Archives

Making an Impact

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 31, 2009 10:20 AM | No Comments

GSK is a big company, with employees located around the world. We also have projects happening in communities all over the globe. Recently, Pete Hare, who heads our HIV and Immunology group, visited several sites in Africa where GSK is making a difference. We gave him a camera and asked him to report back on his trip.

While this report was made for employees, the stories are too good not to share (I've only used first initials to protect privacy). Take a look at Pete's story below:

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"If it wasn't for the help I got from this clinic, I'd have turned to dust by now."

"A" stood before us telling his story in a cramped airless attic at Chreso Ministries in Lusaka, Zambia. Chreso is an outpatient HIV clinic serving some 8,000 patients of which nearly 5,000 are taking HIV medicines with an astonishing 97% compliance rate. GSK helped fund the opening of the clinic from an old building into consulting rooms and a pharmacy. We were there last week to celebrate the success of the clinic in the six years that it's been open

One by one, patients came forward and told their stories of how the clinic has saved their lives. A "J," 13 year old boy, lost both of his parents to AIDS. "M," a young woman, told how terrified she was of the disfigurement and body changes caused by her HIV treatment until they were changed by the doctors at Chreso and she returned to normal.

Learn more about Chreso Ministries in a brief videoclip.

We also traveled to Lilongwe in Malawi to visit St. Gabriel's Hospital, an HIV clinic where HIV patients walk or cycle hours to seek medical care. We celebrated the opening of a building sponsored by GSK to house visiting HIV doctors and nurses from around the world.

See the house that GSK built in Malawi.

Back in Zambia, "A" not only thanked Chreso, but he thanked the employees of GSK because two years ago, perhaps as a result of his HIV, he developed a large malignant tumor on his leg that he could not afford to have removed. Chreso used the funds that GSK employees had personally donated to a 501c3 and paid for "A's" surgery. This is a testament to the generosity of GSK, the skills of the HIV providers at the Lusaka clinic and the spirit of a brave man who came back from the brink.

See why GSK is sponsoring these clinics in the developing world.

These computers sure come in handy.

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 31, 2009 10:01 AM | No Comments

Children with cancer often spend a lot of time away from class when they are receiving treatment. This kind of interruption not only may put the children behind their peers in the classroom, the isolation can't be good for their spirits.

The pediatric oncology program at Georgetown University Hospital is using simple technology--laptops and webcams--to help children whose treatment keeps them away from school stay connected with their classmates, teachers, and lessons.

"Having this technology available is really a turning point for children with cancer and other serious illnesses," said Aziza Shad, Georgetown's pediatric oncology director. "They miss their teachers. They miss their friends. These laptops with webcams provide a perfect way for them to participate in a lesson and stay connected with their school."

The more we can do to help maintain a sense of normalcy, the better, I'd say.

You can make soup with carrots, but you can stir it with a stick.

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 26, 2009 12:10 PM | No Comments

A few years ago, if you mentioned "value-based health management" to someone, you would often see a blank stare. Yet today the phrase--and, more importantly, the concept--is becoming more familiar as employers look for new ways to make their employees healthier and more productive while lowering (or not increasing) the amount they spend on healthcare.

This week, CNNMoney.com published an article called "Unhealthy Habits Cost You More at Work." The author discussed how a number of companies are using both reward and reprimand to encourage employees to make behavioral changes--such as losing weight, exercising, quitting smoking, etc--that can help individuals improve their health (and prevent or better manage chronic diseases) and have a positive impact on healthcare spending.

Rewards, like gift cards for completing a health risk assessment or free smoking cessation products, are often used to encourage employees to take better care of their health. Some employers are going as far as charging smokers a "surcharge" on their monthly premiums until they quit smoking. While some of these tactics can seem excessive, employers are exploring new ways to design benefits that have an impact on health and the bottom line. Carrots and sticks are both useful, but the key is for employers to offer support for employees to make sustainable changes.

Michael Wood, senior consultant with Watson Wyatt, summed it up eloquently: "The moral of the story isn't that healthy workers cost companies less money. When you make all workers healthier, overall health care costs consistently start declining."

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.)

Education and Health

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 25, 2009 11:24 AM | No Comments

This morning I read that the new UK primary school curriculum will include a strong focus on health and wellbeing--to address "deep societal concerns about children's health, diet and physical activity, as well as their relationships with family and friends." This is good news, as the UK is also struggling with obesity. Preventive efforts need to begin early to prevent later chronic conditions, and perhaps the US might consider a stronger health and wellness curriculum in primary schools.

The other interesting thing in the new curriculum is that students will also be taught to use social media--including blogging, podcasts, and Twitter. I am sure this will spark some controversy, but children already have access to these things, so maybe framing them as serious tools that can help in information gathering and dissemination--rather than distractions--could be a positive move for modern education.

Doing the Right Thing

By Sarah, GSK Communications on March 24, 2009 10:42 AM | 2 Comments

One of my favorite commercials these days is for an insurance company. The commercial isn't funny, there aren't any geckos speaking with cockney accents or babies talking about the stock market. Don't get me wrong--I enjoy those commercials too. Yet every time this particular one comes on I find myself smiling because of the way it reminds me of the simple happiness a person can feel from doing the right thing.

I feel the same way whenever I speak about GSK as a responsible corporation, from the person who answers the phones and fields patients' questions about our assistance programs providing free medicines to uninsured or under-insured Americans, to the scientist who has dedicated his career to the discovery and development of a vaccine to prevent malaria in Africa, or the person who reviews the applications from amazing organizations for our IMPACT Awards.

Today, GSK published its 2008 Corporate Responsibility Report. The report provides updated details on our efforts to fight diseases of the developing world--such as the creation of a patent pool, including more than 500 of GSK's granted patents and 300 of our pending applications, and the reduction of prices on more than 110 products and formulations in the world's 50 least developed countries. We also discuss our focus on transparency, specifically related to clinical research, and announce that GSK increased its charitable support by 13 percent in 2008 through product and cash donations.

At GSK, I believe our employees have always been focused on doing the right thing. In 2008, as we have done every year since we first published our Corporate Responsibility Report, we took a long hard look at how we can ensure that we are running our business responsibly, and then we published it for the world to see. There is always room for improvement, and we refuse to be complacent, but we are extremely proud of all that we have accomplished.

Help for the Uninsured

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 20, 2009 11:55 AM | 1 Comment

We know that taking medicines as prescribed is one of the most effective ways to manage chronic diseases--like asthma and diabetes--and prevent costlier complications and hospital visits. Yet in this economy, we often hear about patients cutting pills or skipping doses to make prescriptions last longer, or not filling prescriptions at all.

This is dangerous both for patients and our healthcare budget.

With rising unemployment comes rising rates of uninsured Americans. To help, Together Rx Access®, a prescription savings program sponsored by GSK and several other leading pharmaceutical companies, expanded the program's eligibility income levels. The change was made to help more uninsured individuals and families save on the medicines they need to stay healthy and to manage chronic conditions. Almost 90 percent of uninsured Americans will be eligible for the Together Rx Access program. The expanded income levels for which individuals are eligible for the Together Rx Access program are now:

· $45,000 for a single person (formerly $30,000)

· $60,000 for a family of two (formerly $40,000)

· $75,000 for a family of three (formerly $50,000)

· $90,000 for a family of four (formerly $60,000)

· $105,000 for a family of five (formerly $70,000)

"We want to do our part in these difficult economic times to ensure that patients have continued access to their prescription medicines," said Deirdre Connelly, GSK's President of U.S. Pharmaceuticals. "If we can help patients--especially those with chronic diseases--to take their medicines as prescribed, we can improve their health and help lower overall medical spending by preventing complications and avoiding costly emergency care."

The Together Rx Access Card is free to get and free to use. Together Rx Access offers potential cardholders a simple enrollment process. Individuals have the option of enrolling online at www.TogetherRxAccess.com , calling a toll-free number 1-800-966-0407, or completing a short application and returning it by mail.

In addition to its participation in Together Rx, GSK offers a variety of programs to help patients obtain medicines for free or at reduced prices. GSK's patient assistance programs provided help with prescriptions for almost 415,000 patients, with approximately 2.5 million 30-day prescriptions filled in 2008. These programs are:

Bridges to Access is for patients with low incomes who may need help getting the medicines they need. Our program provides most of our non-cancer medicines with low co-payments at participating retail drug stores and free through mail order.

Commitment to Access is for cancer and specialty pharmacy medicines, works much like Bridges to Access. Patients with low income and limited prescription drug benefits can obtain these outpatient medicines at no cost.

GSK Access provides GSK prescription medications at no cost to Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan enrollees who meet the eligibility requirements.

We need to do everyting that we can to keep people in control of their health--especially right now, as we look at reforming our healthcare system.

Congratulations to the Winners of the IMPACT Awards!

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 18, 2009 2:42 PM | 1 Comment

The 12^th Annual GSK IMPACT (Innovation, Management, Partnership, Achievement, Community focus, and Targeting need) Awards honor community-based healthcare organizations in the greater Philadelphia region that provide access to healthcare for the underserved.

Access to medical and mental health care for underserved and disenfranchised people with HIV/AIDS and addictions, and healthcare support for the elderly and youth, including the health and well-being of children and families, support for immigrants, healthcare advocacy, healthy pregnancies, and clinical breastfeeding services are just a few of the areas where GSK has touched communities through the IMPACT Awards.

Each of the ten organizations selected receives $40,000 to acknowledge and reward exemplary healthcare provided by small- to mid-size non-profit organizations. This year's winners were:

· Breastfeeding Resource Center (Montgomery County)

· Casa Guadalupe Center (Lehigh County)

· Co-County Wellness Services (Berks County)

· ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth (Montgomery County)

· Family and Community Service of Delaware County

· Libertae, Inc. (Bucks County)

· Public Citizens for Children and Youth (Philadelphia)

· Resources for Children's Health (Philadelphia)

· Saint Catherine Labouré Medical Clinic (Philadelphia)

· Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition (Philadelphia)

Visit our website to learn more about the IMPACT Awards and the winners!

Prostate Health is a Serious Issue

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 16, 2009 11:47 AM | No Comments

Here are two shocking facts: half the men over 50 years of age have an enlarging prostate and John McEnroe is 50 years old.

Enlarged prostate, if left untreated, can lead to worsening urinary symptoms and even prostate-related surgery. "I just celebrated my 50^th birthday, and while I'm still as active as ever, I know there are certain health issues I need to stay on top of, including my prostate health," said McEnroe. "Now I'm asking other men to take the '50 Over 50 Prostate Health Challenge.' It's all about talking to your doctor and getting serious about your prostate health."

McEnroe has teamed up with GSK for this initiative and is asking men to:

Take a brief online prostate health assessment.
See a doctor for a prostate-health exam.
Know their PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) levels. PSA level, obtained from a simple blood test, is a protein marker that can rise when a prostate condition is present.

You can read a quick but interesting interview with McEnroe in yesterday's New York Times.

The Air That I Breathe

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 12, 2009 12:19 PM | 3 Comments

"The Air That I Breathe," by the Hollies, was a pretty big hit when it was released in 1973, and has been covered by a number of artists since, including k.d. lang on 1997's Drag. It even informed the melody of Radiohead's early breakout song "Creep." The familiar lyrics speak of the simple joys of being in love:

If I could make a wish

I think I'd pass

Can't think of anything I need...

Sometimes all I need is the air that I breathe and to love you.

Well, if that song was to be written today, we might, instead, hear "Sometimes all I need is the air that I breathe and a gas mask."

A new study in today's New England Journal of Medicine says the effects of chronic exposure to ozone, a key component of smog, are deadly.

We know that ground-level ozone, formed from the interaction of sunlight and pollution, can worsen the symptoms of asthma. Now this study, which followed nearly 450,000 Americans in 96 metropolitan areas for two decades, also shows that ozone exposure increases the risk of death from respiratory diseases.

This is important, especially for asthma sufferers. Asthma is one of those tricky diseases that requires vigilance, because patients don't necessarily feel symptoms until an attack comes on. This study shows that encouraging people with asthma to better manage their condition--by following their doctor's orders--is a public health essential.

(Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.)

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 10, 2009 10:32 AM | 2 Comments

Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The theme for 2009 is "HIV is Right Here at Home."

According to HHS, in 2005, women represented 26 percent of new AIDS diagnoses, compared with only 11 percent of new AIDS cases reported in 1990. Most women are infected with HIV through heterosexual contact and injection drug use. Women of color are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, with AIDS now the leading cause of death for black women ages 25 to 34.

According to the New York City Health Department 90 percent of the HIV-positive women in NYC are black or Latina. Many are teenage girls.

Education and awareness programs are essential to preventing the spread of HIV infection, and we need to ensure that those who are infected take care of themselves by following their doctors' orders regarding medicines, diet, and exercise.

While the discovery and development of HIV medicines have made HIV a chronic disease today, we cannot allow the statistics quoted above to continue. Healthcare has to be a strategic mix of prevention, innovative pharmaceutical research, and finding novel ways to increase access to care that can prolong lives and reduce further transmission of diseases like HIV. Medicines alone cannot turn the tide.

As we look toward a reformed healthcare system, the concepts of prevention, intervention, and innovation must be highly-valued in order to get a better handle on our health and healthcare spending.

Lighten up and don't light up.

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 5, 2009 8:48 AM | 2 Comments

But, of course, you already knew that.

A large European study published in this week's British Medical Journal underscores the importance of reducing obesity rates and smoking to prevent health complications later in life.

The study, which spanned decades, found that young men in Sweden who were overweight at age 18 were as likely to die by age 60 as light smokers, while obese teens were twice as likely to die early as heavy smokers.

We know that the chronic diseases that are linked to smoking and obesity-like diabetes, CDC Obesity map 2007.jpg heart disease, and lung disease--are some of the costliest. In the US, nearly half of us have at least one chronic disease, and about $3 out of every $4 spent on healthcare goes toward treating those with chronic diseases. Healthcare reform must focus on preventing and better managing chronic diseases if we are to improve public health while lowering healthcare spending.

The message is clear not just for Sweden but for all of us: the global obesity epidemic and teen smoking remain essential targets for intensified public health initiatives.

Announcing the Healthcare Team (Again)

By Michael M, GSK Communications on March 2, 2009 1:09 PM | No Comments

Well it's official, again. We have a new nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Today, as expected, President Barack Obama officially nominated Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

HHS is an enormous department, including FDA, CMS, CDC, NIH, and the Office of Public Health and Science--just to name a few--and Sebelius will be responsible for implementing the President's healthcare vision. If you think about it, she is in charge of disease prevention, intervention, and innovation--the three things that might just help us out of our healthcare mess if we give them the right attention!

As Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sebelius "will work with Democrats and Republicans alike to cut costs, expand access, and improve the quality of healthcare for all Americans."

It is a huge task, but Sebelius seems prepared for it.

The President also named Nancy-Ann DeParle, one of the nation's leading experts on healthcare and regulatory issues, as Counselor to the President and Director of the White House Office for Health Reform. From the White House press release:

"As commissioner of the Department of Human Services in Tennessee, she saw firsthand the health care system's impact on workers and families. In the Clinton Administration, DeParle handled budget matters for federal health care programs, and took on the tremendous task of managing Medicare and Medicaid."

It's a huge issue, and we wish both of them the best of luck--with the hope that they focus on what is really driving our health problems and healthcare costs...chronic diseases.

March 2009 Archives