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Background
The California Medical Association Foundation has initiated
the California Women's Health Initiative (CAWHI), a long-term,
statewide initiative to improve the health of women by:
- Improving communication between physicians and their
women patients.
- Increasing collaboration between physician organizations,
women's organizations, consumer groups and government agencies.
- Enhancing physicians' knowledge regarding gender differences
in medicine and healthcare.
- Empowering patients to be proactive in their health decision-making.
- Enhancing the role of office staff and allied health
professionals to help patients navigate and best utilize
the health system and resources in their communities.
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| Statistics |
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75% of women have never spoken to
their physician about osteoporosis. For
each patient diagnosed with osteoporosis,
two to three remain undiagnosed.
- According to a study commissioned by
the Heart Association, 92% of American
women are unaware that heart disease and
stroke are the leading cause of death among
women.
- Over the past ten years the mortality
rate from lung cancer has declined in men
but has continued to rise in women. This
trend is under-recognized in women and is
due predominately to increased rates of
cigarette smoking in women.
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Older Women's Health Conference
The first activity of the CAWHI was: Bridging Medical Care
& Communities to Improve the Health of Women 50+. The
purpose of the Older Women's Health Conference was two-fold.
The first was to bring together leaders from physicians',
women's and community-based organizations to strengthen relationships
and increase understanding and collaboration. The second purpose
was to provide a clinical component to address serious health
problems facing older women in California including depression,
healthy aging, heart health, menopause and gynecological cancers,
and osteoporosis. The conference provided the platform to
begin a long-term commitment to organizational change resulting
in a collaborative approach to women's health.
Cawhi's Advisory Committee
We are pleased to have partners including representatives
from physician's, women's and community-based organizations,
the California Department of Health Services, political organizations,
disease specific associations, and cultural and ethnic health
organizations. We have an advisory committee representing
35 organizations that is helping the Foundation shape the
CAWHI.
Links
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