Walking this theme back, it’s clear that health professional segregation begins on the undergraduate level. The RWJ report notes that some campuses are trying to change that. They site the following:

·”Maine’s University of New England has developed a common undergraduate curriculum for its health professions programs in nursing, dental hygiene, athletic training, applied exercise and science, and health, wellness and occupational studies.”

· “Vanderbilt University is pursuing an interprofessional education initiative that unites students from the medical and nursing schools with graduate students pursuing degrees in pharmacy and social work at nearby institutions.”

Positive Medicine Inc. has taken this one step further with its’ “Healthy Person Project”. Tested this fall at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY, the online program has involved 350 incoming freshman students from all disciplines. It defines health as “the capacity to reach full human potential – mind, body, and spirit. Health then is a liberal arts concept and a strategic planning challenge.

Students were asked to take responsibility for the health and human potential of an online child conceived on October 4, 2011. Using the interactive online life planning tool, each student identified the top 25 actions or interventions that they believed would allow this online child, to be born on July 4, 2012, to reach her or his full human potential. They placed each idea at the appropriate location on a 120 year dynamic time line. Drop down menus asked them to categorize their ideas and reveal where the actions will take place (home, school, health care office, etc.)

The program contains a real-time smart online database that is able to capture and analyze the rich array of information collected. Each participant enters privacy protected, de-identified demographic data and completes an introductory 10 question health opinion survey which can be cross-corollated with the results of the simulator exercise. Using online algorithms, the system generates a variety of reports that are available in real time to online participants. Presentation slide decks are part of the package as well to promote class room dialogue.

In 2012, Positive Medicine Inc. will make the Healthy Person Project available to campuses nationwide. The live database will allow participants to see how their health priorities over a life time match up with their school’s vision and with the nation as a whole. What this program acknowledges is that team work and collaboration must begin with a common definition and vision of health. Using this powerful application, an entire community can be efficiently canvassed and united (with privacy protections) online with de-identified results available in real time.

Why is the Healthy Person Project important? Because it acknowledges that, while collaboration and teamwork are critical in the pursuit of health, these efforts must be built on a strong foundation. That foundation requires a common understanding of what health means and what are the lead priorities in assuring that each individual reaches full human potential.

For more information on the Healthy Person Project, press HERE.

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