IOHO, sanofi-aventis partner for new training program to help patients with chronic disease

The Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes and sanofi-aventis Canada are pleased to announce their partnership in a training program in Canada designed for healthcare practitioners who want to help patients better manage their chronic conditions.  Modeled on successful "health coaching" programs in Australia, USA, and other countries, this new initiative will complement peer-led self management programs. 

Statistics from the World Health Organization show that 50% of patients with chronic disease do not adhere to doctor recommended therapies and do not follow good health practices, such as eating healthy, exercising, and obtaining adequate sleep. This new program will assist healthcare professionals in addressing the motivational challenges often seen with patients with chronic disease to take charge of their own health and adhere to healthy practices.

"Sanofi-aventis is focused on the needs of patients and on ways to improve their quality of life," says Hugh O'Neill, CEO and President of sanofi-aventis Canada.  "Our partnership with the IOHO is part of our concerted effort to work more holistically with healthcare practitioners to ensure that all components of healthcare - practitioners, clinics, policy makers, insurers, etc., work together to improve patient health, prevent illness and reduce the burden on our current healthcare system." 

Sanofi-aventis and IOHO will officially launch their new training program in the spring of 2011.  Close to 100 Canadian healthcare professionals participated in the pilot training at pre-launch sessions in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary in January and February of this year.  Based on feedback, the new health coaching program will be specifically designed for healthcare practitioners, including nurses, registered pharmacists, physicians, nutritionists, health psychologists and physician assistants across all disease states in the Canadian environment.

"Our goal is to design a health coaching program with professional certification and key outcome measures," states Durhane Wong-Rieger, President of the Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes.  "For the past several years we have been training patients in self-management and are delighted to offer this comprehensive, evidence-based support program for healthcare professionals".