Healthy People 2010: Taking Action to Improve the Nation’s Health

In conjunction with the Healthy Choices for Life campaign, TRICARE encourages its civilian provider network to embrace the Federal government’s Healthy People 2010 initiative and offer programs and information that promote wellness.

In conjunction with the Healthy Choices for Life campaign, TRICARE encourages its civilian provider network to embrace the Federal government’s Healthy People 2010 initiative and offer programs and information that promote wellness.

The Healthy People 2010 initiative aims to achieve its goals by identifying the most significant preventable health threats and establishing goals to reduce those threats by the year 2010. One way this is being accomplished is through the incorporation of Leading Health Indicators. As a group, the Leading Health Indicators reflect the major health concerns in the United States at the beginning of the 21st century:

• Physical activity
• Overweight and obesity
• Tobacco use
• Substance abuse
• Responsible sexual behavior
• Mental health
• Injury and violence
• Environmental quality
• Immunization
• Access to health care

These Indicators were chosen based on their ability to motivate action, the availability of data to measure progress and their importance as public health issues.

Consider the impact you can have on TRICARE beneficiaries’ overall health and wellness by implementing health promotion programs and prevention education around these Leading Health Indicators. Coupled with your continued focus on high-quality medical intervention for disease and injury, such programming can really make a difference.

Publications are available at www.healthypeople.gov that provide extensive resources for implementing Healthy People 2010 initiatives. Additionally, as several Leading Health Indicators have the same focus as the Healthy Choices for Life campaign, look to the “Healthy Choices for Life” department in this newsletter to bring you information and ideas that will assist you in your health promotion endeavors.

The end results will be improved military readiness, a healthier population, lower health care costs and more satisfied patients—all of which will help TRICARE remain a U.S. health care leader.

For more information on Healthy People 2010 objectives or if you would like to become a Healthy People 2010 partner, visit www.healthypeople.gov or call 1-800-367-4725.