People with disabilities often miss prevention, wellness care

Lifestyle counseling and screening tests should not be aimed only at the able-bodied.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Aug. 22/29, 2005.

Washington -- A new federal report is calling attention to the fact that people with disabilities can lead long and healthy lives, but too often they fall through the cracks when it comes to the health screening tools given to more able-bodied people. Part of this message is aimed at primary care physicians who might not be seeing -- in these cases -- the entire patient.

People with disabilities are still not getting the health care that is available to others, said U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, in a document intended to change this situation. "Today, we must double our efforts so that people with disabilities achieve full access to disease prevention and health promotion services," said Dr. Carmona, who issued a July 26 "Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons with Disabilities" to mark the 15th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

About 54 million Americans -- one in five -- are living with at least one disability, and most Americans will experience a disability at some point, according to Dept. of Health and Human Services figures. Physicians have a responsibility to ensure that the health care of this population is inclusive, Dr. Carmona said. He encouraged doctors to treat the whole person, not just the disability.

"We must learn to recognize the abilities of persons with disabilities," said Margaret Giannini, MD, director of the HHS Office on Disability. "People with disabilities can learn, get married, have a family, worship, vote, work and live long productive lives," she added. "We need to make sure we treat them as active members of our society."