Welcome to Center for Advancing Health

CFAH Media Contact: Kafi Grigsby kgrigsby@cfah.org 202-387-2829

WASHINGTON — Ocotber 21, 2009, The inaugural issue of the Journal of Participatory Medicine (JPM), an academic journal that documents the impact of participatory medicine on health, was released today by the Society of Participatory Medicine. Participatory medicine represents a cooperative model of health care that encourages, supports and expects active involvement by all parties (clinicians, patients, caregivers, administrators, payers and communities) in the prevention, management and treatment of disease and disability and the promotion of health.

Jessie Gruman, PhD, president and founder of the Center for Advancing Health, and Dr. Charles W. Smith, executive associate dean for clinical affairs and professor of family and community medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and founder of eDocAmerica, serve as JPM’s co-editors.

“We need to transform health care from a delivery system driven primarily by clinicians to a mutually shared enterprise in which individuals -- sick and well -- play an active role,” said Jessie Gruman. “What will it take—what shifts in the culture and practice of medicine must occur—so that by taking on our shared responsibilities, we will all benefit more fully from scientific advances in care? This is the central question that the Journal of Participatory Medicine will address.”

The Journal’s mission is to help shape the culture of medicine by demonstrating whether and how patient participation is necessary to achieving better health. JPM will publish research articles, editorials, narratives, case reports, reviews and updates on related research in other media. It will explore how patient participation affects health outcomes, resources and relationships and which interventions drive participation most effectively.

The first issue of JPM is a collection of essays that serve as the “launch pad” from which the journal will grow. In this issue and in future issues, JPM will bring together the best available evidence and examples of participatory medicine to make the case for its value to patients and health care professions. The Journal will provide a forum for those at the cutting edge of participatory medicine. Its peer-reviewed articles will be made available at no cost using an online journal format, Open Journal Systems. Finally, JPM will educate and engage providers who have practiced-- or aspire to practice-- participatory medicine.

About JoPM
The Journal of Participatory Medicine is an official publication of the Society for Participatory Medicine, a new nonprofit organization dedicated to defining, shaping and advancing the field. We acknowledge the group of determined, forward-thinking professionals led by the late Tom Ferguson, MD, that years ago began planning how to enable more effective provider/patient collaboration. This journal is the result of his belief that health care must involve much more active collaboration between patients and providers. For more information about the launch of JPM, visit: http://participatorymedicine.org/journal/journal-of-participatory-medicine-launch/

About the Center for Advancing Health (CFAH)
The Center for Advancing Health (CFAH) is committed to creating an America where everyone is prepared to live a healthy life and make good choices about health and health care. Since 1992, CFAH has worked to translate complex scientific evidence into information, policies and programs that will ensure that each person can make good decisions about their health and interact effectively with their health care providers. CFAH is an independent non-profit organization that is supported by a number of foundations (principally the Annenberg Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation) and individuals. For additional information visit: www.cfah.org.

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