The AOA joins approximately 70 other non-profit organizations in the effort to raise awareness of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit among low-income Medicare recipients. Research indicates that low-income individuals and families are more likely to have a chronic illness. ABC’s goal is to help 5.5 million low-income beneficiaries receive the $600 annual credit to help them pay for their prescription drugs. The coalition also hopes to ensure that these individuals learn about and take advantage of other available private and public programs.
As a founding member of the Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance (AEDA), the AOA shows its commitment to educating the osteopathic family and the public about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and the importance of early detection. With someone developing Alzheimer’s every 70 seconds, it’s important to “Know the 10 Signs” most critical for detecting the disease and to see a physician if you experience any of the symptoms. For AOA members, you have access to the Alzheimer’s Education Center on DO-Online as well as resources including a poster (PDF 152K) and a brochure (PDF 1M), promoting awareness for the disease and its symptoms.
Advertisements for alcoholic beverages send powerful messages to young people—a significant portion of sports fans and a key demographic for current use and future dependency on alcohol. Today, it is nearly impossible to watch a television sports event without seeing beer ads that attract youth attention, cultivate positive attitudes toward drinking, and mask the many risks related to underage—and adult—consumption of alcohol. The AOA supports the Campaign for Alcohol-Free Sports TV and endorses its central principles recognizing and working to combat the problem of young people and alcohol use. More.
Secondhand smoke is deadly. Workers and patrons of Chicago businesses should be protected from this threat. The Campaign for a Healthy Smoke-free Chicago is a coalition of health and community organizations committed to protecting workers and patrons from the dangers of secondhand smoke. The Campaign supports passage of a clean indoor air ordinance that would eliminate smoking in workplaces and some public areas.
CaringBridge is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Web service that provides free, patient Web sites to help families stay connected to their loved ones and support networks during a health-related situation. A CaringBridge Web site is personal, private, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To learn more about creating a free, personalized Web site to connect loved ones during an illness. Visit the CaringBridge.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon is the leading cause of cancer among non-smokers and results in 21,000 deaths each year. Radon, an invisible gas that cannot be seen or tasted, seeps into buildings through cracks in the foundation. The AOA has partnered with the Children’s Environmental Health Network (CEHN) to promote the dangers of radon. Osteopathic physicians and members of the public can access the CEHN radon awareness kit (PDF) which includes frequently asked questions, a fact sheet and a “coupon” for discounted testing kits to evaluate radon levels in your home.
Established by AOA member John Cassani, D.O., and his wife, Starla, after the tragic loss of their 14-month-old son, Colby, who drowned after being left unattended in the bathtub by a babysitter. After being asked to consider organ donation, their decision helped the Cassani family find hope in the middle of tragedy. They donated Colby’s heart, kidneys and liver to three individuals. All three transplant surgeries were successful, and the Cassani family made it their mission to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation through the foundation’s speakers bureau and the Colby Cassani Endowment Lectureship Series.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Covering Kids & Families initiative is designed to increase the number of children and adults who benefit from federal and state health care coverage programs. As children prepare for the start of school, the Back-to-School Campaign encourages parents to enroll their eligible, uninsured children in Medicaid or State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by calling toll-free 1-877-KIDS-NOW.
Each day, about 77 people get the organ transplant that gives them a second chance, but 19 others die waiting for a donated organ. The AOA supports the Department of Health and Human Services in its initiatives to saves lives through organ and tissue donation and tissue transplantation. This site offers a printable organ donation card and information for families to consider.
For 45 years, DOCARE has sent D.O.s, osteopathic medical students and other health care professionals on short-term medical missions to medically underserved communities in Mexico, Central America and South America.
The Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine produces a radio show on health-related topics that is broadcast on over 250 radio stations and heard by more than 10 million listeners. Family Health Radio implemented the health education program in 1981.
The AOA has collaborated with a number of other national medical associations to launch the Get Connected program which can help osteopathic physicians determine whether their practice technology can electronically exchange prescription information with local pharmacies and whether their technology meets requirements in order to participate in Medicare's E-prescribing incentive program. Osteopathic physicians can visit the AOA’s Get Connected Web site for a free E-Prescribing Readiness Assessment.
Thousands of independent pharmacies will join with CVS/pharmacy, Duane Reade, Osco Drug, Rite Aid, Sav-On Pharmacy, Walgreens, Wal-Mart and other chain pharmacies to provide educational materials to customers explaining the benefits of e-prescribing. To learn more about the benefits of e-prescribing to the public, read the Consumer's Guide to E-prescribing. If you would like to find local physicians and pharmacies who handle electronic prescriptions, visit the Learn About E-prescriptions Web site and type in your ZIP code.
An estimated 75 percent to 90 percent of the 1.4 million traumatic brain injury related-deaths, hospitalizations and emergency department visits that occur each year are concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI). While symptoms may appear mild, they can lead to significant, life-long problems such as persistent headache; vision or hearing problems; sleep disturbances; and memory problems. The American Osteopathic Association has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to provide the “Heads Up: Brain Injury in Your Practice” tool kit which includes valuable information to help physicians evaluate and diagnose patients with known or suspected MTBI or concussion. Physicians can order the tool kit free of charge and patients can access a fact sheet providing tips for preventing concussions and recognizing signs and symptoms of concussions on the CDC Web site.
Healthy People 2010 is a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative designed to improve the health of all Americans. The goals for Healthy People 2010 were launched by former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher and former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna E. Shalala. The AOA is one of many national partnering organizations that has pledged to support this effort.
Of the approximately 65 million American adults who have high blood pressure, 73% of them are unaware of it; 63% are being treated and 39% have it under control. The JNC 7 recommendations are based on results of many studies focusing on the most effective ways to better control blood pressure and include:
Encouraging and influencing patients to make lifestyle changes.
Helping patients achieve a blood pressure goal of <140/90mm Hg, which means the force in the arteries when the heart beats compared to when the heart is at rest.
The alliance is an ad hoc coalition that includes medical, public health, education, and consumer organizations. As a member of the alliance, the AOA joins the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence among others to support and promote the implementation of a comprehensive science-based strategy to reduce underage drinking. For more information about the alliance, call (202) 332-9110.
Dedicated to improving the quality of health care in juvenile confinement facilities, prisons and jails, the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) counts a number of national organizations among its partners including the AOA. NCCHC sets standards covering the areas of care and treatment; health records; administration; personnel and medical-legal issues.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, the average osteopathic medical student carries an educational debt load of approximately $168,000. A partnership between the AOA and the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) can assist D.O. graduates with repaying their loans. In exchange for at least two years of service in one of the nation’s designated health professional shortage areas, graduates can receive up to $50,000 of qualifying educational loans. For more information about the NHSC Loan Repayment Program, call (800) 221-9393 or visit its Web site.
The AOA is proud to partner with the National Inhalants Prevention Coalition (NIPC) in the effort to raise awareness among children and adults about the effects of this form of substance abuse, also known as huffing or sniffing. Statistics indicate that 22% of deaths associated with huffing occur from first-time use and that 20% of the country’s eighth-grade students have tried huffing. For more information about inhalant abuse including its signs, visit the NIPC Web site.
National Institute on Drug Abuse
The AOA has partnered with the National Institute on Drug Abuse and its Physician Outreach Initiative, NIDAMED. The initiative is designed to help D.O.s screen patients for the use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs, both prescription and illicit. Online resources include a screening tool developed from the World Health Organization’s Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test, which has been validated as an effective tool for identifying substance abuse. Other materials available through NIDAMED include postcards and a reference guide.
National SIDS & Infant Death Project IMPACT
Working with the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs and the Association of Clinicians for the underserved, Project IMPACT has developed free clinical Tool Cards on Infant Death Reduction and Bereavement Support for the Family Suffering the Death of an Infant. Both are available free of charge at the National SIDS and Infant Death Resource Center or Project IMPACT. The AOA has spoken out on SIDS in policy statements dating back to 1974, and is a proud supporter of this program.
Sponsored jointly by the AOA and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, OSTMED® is a bibliographic index containing roughly 30,000 citations and abstracts of journal articles providing access to the osteopathic medicine literature via the Internet. Its aim is to cover all aspects of osteopathic medicine (clinical, social, and professional), including osteopathic manipulation and the relevant manual medicine literature.
Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and account for the vast majority of health care spending. The AOA joined this national coalition to help raise awareness of policies and practices that save lives and reduce health costs through more effective prevention and management of chronic disease.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects approximately eight to 12 million Americans with many more at risk for this condition. Characterized by blockages in the arteries that supply the legs, PAD is associated with major health risks, including heart attack and stroke. If left untreated, it can also lead to gangrene and amputation. Early diagnosis and management of risk factors can slow the progression of the disease reducing the chances for permanent harm or death.
The AOA is a partner of the PAD coalition, a consortium of distinct health-related organizations and vascular professional societies that have united to raise the public awareness of PAD. In partnership with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, the PAD Coalition, has launched a national campaign to raise awareness about peripheral arterial disease. Called “Stay in Circulation: Take Steps to Learn About PAD,” the campaign encourages men and women over age 50 to be alert to PAD symptoms, talk to their health care providers about their risks, and ask about the simple diagnostic test, the ankle brachial index.
The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is an advisory committee comprised of citizens who advise the President through the HHS Secretary about physical activity, fitness, and sports in America. Through its programs and partnerships with the public, private, and non-profit sectors, the Council works to promote health, physical activity, and fitness, for all individuals through participation in physical activity and sports. As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the Council invited organizations to join a new partnership initiative— Partners to Get America Moving. The AOA has joined this initiative.
The Healthy Athletes provider Directory is an online database of health care professionals who are able and willing to treat patients with intellectual disabilities. D.O.s can create and maintain a listing in the Provider directory to help the public find a health care provider in their area who treats patients with intellectual disabilities. It's expected to be the largest list of health care providers for people with intellectual disabilities in the United States.
The Together Rx Access Program helps qualifying individuals who lack prescription drug coverage and are not eligible for Medicare. Savings range between 25-40% on over 275 brand name prescription drugs and there are savings on generic drugs. The Together Rx Access Program is sponsored by several pharmaceutical companies and supported by the AOA.
Tobacco is the leading cause of disease and death in the United States. To provide D.O.s with the latest information on successfully treating tobacco dependence, the AOA supports the U.S. Public Health Service’s recommendations outlined in 2008 clinical practice update: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Developed from information published in more than 8,700 peer-reviewed articles, the guideline serves as a resource not only for D.O.s but also for patients and policymakers. D.O.s can also earn one hour of AOA Category 2-B credit by taking the online course based on the guideline.
The Trust for America's Health (TFAH) Working Group on Pandemic Flu Preparedness focuses on information sharing about government pandemic preparedness initiatives and collegial collaboration. It is a broad-based coalition of professional, scientific, health and medical organizations that are committed to disseminating high quality information regarding pandemic flu preparedness. The AOA is a member of the Working Group. Instead of accepting that people will inevitably become sick, TFAH believes a strong, effective, and responsive public health system is a vital prescription for preventing disease. To protect all of our citizens from health threats of all kinds, Trust for America's Health (TFAH) advocates:
More and better trained public health professionals;
Investment in a state-of-the-art early warning and communications network;
Tracking of diseases and monitoring of environmental exposures; and
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) is a nonprofit charitable organization that facilitates organ distribution and transplantation in the United States. Under government contract, UNOS maintains the nation's organ transplant waiting list, as well as establishes policies and raises awareness about organ donation.
The AOA is a partner of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The mission of the USPSTF is to evaluate the benefits of individual services based on age, gender, and risk factors for disease and make recommendations about which preventive services should be incorporated into primary medical care. The USPSTF is sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The AOA is pleased to provide the above link so that osteopathic physicians can access the recommendations.
The AOA joins approximately 70 other non-profit organizations in the effort to raise awareness of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit among low-income Medicare recipients. Research indicates that low-income individuals and families are more likely to have a chronic illness. ABC’s goal is to help 5.5 million low-income beneficiaries receive the $600 annual credit to help them pay for their prescription drugs. The coalition also hopes to ensure that these individuals learn about and take advantage of other available private and public programs.
As a founding member of the Alzheimer’s Early Detection Alliance (AEDA), the AOA shows its commitment to educating the osteopathic family and the public about the warning signs of Alzheimer’s and the importance of early detection. With someone developing Alzheimer’s every 70 seconds, it’s important to 
Established by AOA member John Cassani, D.O., and his wife, Starla, after the tragic loss of their 14-month-old son, Colby, who drowned after being left unattended in the bathtub by a babysitter. After being asked to consider organ donation, their decision helped the Cassani family find hope in the middle of tragedy. They donated Colby’s heart, kidneys and liver to three individuals. All three transplant surgeries were successful, and the Cassani family made it their mission to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation through the foundation’s speakers bureau and the Colby Cassani Endowment Lectureship Series.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Covering Kids & Families initiative is designed to increase the number of children and adults who benefit from federal and state health care coverage programs. As children prepare for the start of school, the Back-to-School Campaign encourages parents to enroll their eligible, uninsured children in Medicaid or State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) by calling toll-free 1-877-KIDS-NOW.
For 45 years, DOCARE has sent D.O.s, osteopathic medical students and other health care professionals on short-term medical missions to medically underserved communities in Mexico, Central America and South America.
Working with the Association of SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs and the Association of Clinicians for the underserved, Project IMPACT has developed free clinical Tool Cards on Infant Death Reduction and Bereavement Support for the Family Suffering the Death of an Infant. Both are available free of charge at the 
Sponsored jointly by the AOA and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, OSTMED® is a bibliographic index containing roughly 30,000 citations and abstracts of journal articles providing access to the osteopathic medicine literature via the Internet. Its aim is to cover all aspects of osteopathic medicine (clinical, social, and professional), including osteopathic manipulation and the relevant manual medicine literature.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects approximately eight to 12 million Americans with many more at risk for this condition. Characterized by blockages in the arteries that supply the legs, PAD is associated with major health risks, including heart attack and stroke. If left untreated, it can also lead to gangrene and amputation. Early diagnosis and management of risk factors can slow the progression of the disease reducing the chances for permanent harm or death.
In partnership with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, the PAD Coalition, has launched a national campaign to raise awareness about peripheral arterial disease. Called 
