The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Arthritis Management and Well-Being Program, NACDD’s Arthritis portfolio, and local partners in Iowa are piloting the “Public Health Framework for Collaborative Arthritis Management and Wellbeing.” Together with the Iowa Community HUB and Primary Health Care, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Des Moines, Iowa, we are working to improve quality of life for adults with arthritis.

This innovative framework will:

• Expand access to arthritis-appropriate evidence-based interventions (AAEBIs) that focus on self-management education and physical activity.
• Encourage healthcare providers to screen arthritis patients for function, pain, and physical activity, and provide counseling about the benefits of physical activity for reducing arthritis pain and limitations.
• Increase referrals to AAEBIs for arthritis patients.  
• Promote physical activity and self-management skills to manage arthritis symptoms.

This initiative aligns with the NACDD Strategic Map, Strategy E “Accelerate Workforce Development in States/Territories.” Building on the success of the Arthritis Expert Panel and Design Team, NACDD has formed a new group: the Arthritis Expert Panel II 2024. This diverse group of experts, partners, and collaborators is providing strategic direction for the pilot project and refining implementation strategies to improve quality of life for adults with arthritis and other chronic conditions.

Support our efforts by spreading awareness among healthcare providers of the free, online Lifestyle Management Programs for Arthritis: Expand Your Knowledge on Evidence-Based Interventions activity, developed collaboratively by NACDD and Medscape. This training offers up to 0.25 continuing education credits and helps healthcare providers identify areas where they can improve their knowledge of non-pharmacologic treatments and learn how to integrate AAEBIs into their patients’ care plans.

This activity is intended for primary care physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, community health workers, rheumatologists, orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare practitioners who provide care to patients with arthritis.

For more information, or to get involved please contact Julia Chevan.

NACDD’s arthritis portfolio is part of the Center for Advancing Healthy Communities.