Why PANDA

200,000 people in Wisconsin live with these illnesses.

In part, the PANDA acronym was chosen because these under-served patients with neurological disorders are endangered and deserve your support. All too often, the patients PANDA seeks to serve have been given short shrift by the healthcare community and have seen their lives slip by unnoticed.  They deserve better services – and if they received these services in a timely manner, they might be able to continue being productive members of society.  It’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure these patients do not remain invisible.

 
WHY PANDA?  WHAT WILL IT ACCOMPLISH?

PANDA, an alliance project, will create, implement, and support a model multifaceted healthcare center for patients with multi symptom illness. The Wisconsin Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) Association is spearheading the establishment of this alliance.

 
WHY HAVE ONE CLINIC TO DEAL
WITH ALL THESE DIFFERENT ILLNESSES?

This plan makes sense because:

1. The illnesses are misunderstood and often misdiagnosed.

2. They are invisible, affect all body systems, and can result in total disability and/or death.

3. The illnesses have many symptoms in common.  There is also a significant overlap in patient populations (e.g. many people with CFS also suffer from fibromyalgia).

4. They all include exhaustion, weakness, pain, loss of mobility, cognitive problems, and a multitude of other debilitating symptoms.

5. There is no cure, but with a timely, correct diagnosis, treatment, and support, patients can often control their symptoms enough to lead meaningful lives.

WHY IS A COMPREHENSIVE CENTER

THE BEST CHOICE?

Nationwide, successful healthcare models show that integration of services results in far better patient outcomes.  In Wisconsin, Comprehensive Pediatric, Heart, and Cancer Centers of Excellence use coordinated care to help patients and their families recover from the physical and emotional trauma of life-threatening conditions.

 Medical evidence shows that patients with chronic illnesses also improve with coordinated complementary and traditional medical healthcare.*  The model clinic established by PANDA will address the following current problems:

1. New patients go from specialist to specialist to find a diagnosis and help.  The cost to patients and their insurance companies is staggering.

Wisconsin healthcare providers and patients will recognize the PANDA clinic, a center for patients with like symptoms, as a one-stop facility.  Timely diagnosis and intervention is much more cost effective for all those concerned.

2. Often patients and their families suffer severe financial and psychological repercussions, especially if the main wage earner has fallen ill.  Patients who live alone are especially vulnerable since they may lack the ability to get to doctors’ appointments, to provide themselves with adequate meals, and to manage the other tasks of daily living.

The PANDA center will evaluate the condition of the whole person – in the patient’s home if necessary – and provide medical and non-medical assistance to patients and their families.  These complex illnesses require a coordinated approach to healthcare.

¨       Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

                                                                                        -- Margaret Mead

Sample

 UNDERSERVED PATIENT POPULATIONS
(US Pop. 2002)  281,421,906   - over 18  - 209,128,094
WISCONSIN Prevalence - THESE ARE ESTIMATES!

     Disorder           #                    WI                    Milwaukee County             Dane  County

        (Population)                    5,364,000                      940,000                        427,000

a. ME/CFS  422/100,000*           22,366                          3,600                           1,800

b. FM  2000/100,000*                106,000                        18,800                            8,500

c. PP  (US)  1,630,000                27,000                          5,500                            2,500

d. Lupus   50/100,000 -        2,650 -  23,800                  450  - 4165                  213  -1880        (US) 1, 400,000*        

e. MS  200/100,000*                   10,600                          1,880                              854

_______________________________________________________________________________
 70-90% women               168,616 - 189,800           30,230 - 33,945              13,867 - 15,534

GWS: most often Diagnosed as CFS/FM, no available data in WI
Lyme/ Post Lyme: WI - 9 per 100,000 new cases 2000  (CDC) 1.8 million estimate from Lyme Associations/groups
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities: Non reportable 90% or higher overlap with CFS/FM

Sources:

a. Jason, L. 1999 (NIH). Overlap with FM/MCS/PPS/MS
b. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 1990. Overlap with     CFS/PPS/Lupus.
c. US Public Health Survey 1987 (Paralytic and non paralytic.) Non-paralytic often Misdiagnosed as FM/CFS.
d. CDC, Lupus Association. Prevalence varies greatly by race, ethnicity. Overlap with FM.
e. MS Society - WI Prevalence. Prevalence varies by geographical location. Overlap with CFS.