Review the "Define Mode" definition in the d.school.bootcmap.bootlegPreview the document material, available
here as well as located at the end of the week 3 Readings/Lectures. Two goals of the “Define Mode” of the
“Five Steps of Creative Design” are to develop a deep understanding of your users and the design space and,
based on that understanding, to come up with an actionable problem statement: your point of view.
Chronic illnesses and disabilities are the largest categories of illness and disabilities and the most common
cause of death. And, in a healthcare system organized primarily around treating acute illnesses, chronic
illnesses (conditions or symptoms that persist for three months or more) present great challenges to effective
treatment and are in need of more resources and research than currently in place.
As of 2012, about half of all adults, 117 million people had one or more chronic health conditions. One in four
adults had two or more chronic health conditions
Seven of the top 10 causes of death in 2014 were chronic diseases. Two of these chronic diseases, heart
disease, and cancer, together accounted for nearly 46% of all deaths.
Eighty-six percent of the nation's $2.7 trillion annual health care expenditures are for people with chronic and
mental health conditions.
Are more likely to financed by public insurance
Are largely preventable
Regarding this last point, conditions that we ultimately designate as “chronic” are closely related to, and are
sometimes rooted in:
Tobacco use
Lack of physical activity
Poor nutrition
Lack of regular screening for preventable cancers of the breast, cervix, colon, and rectum
Chronic illnesses often lead to disability; disability can easily exacerbate chronic illnesses. For example:
If you can’t take care of yourself (disability), you may not be able to eat properly, worsening your diabetes
(chronic illness). If your diabetes gets worse, it further reduces your ability to take care of yourself.
If you are too obese to exercise easily (disability), you may double your risk of coronary heart disease (chronic
illness). If you have an acute MI (myocardial infarction, or heart attack), you are likely to become further
disabled.
The chronic conditions most responsible for disabilities are:
Arthritis
Heart disease
Back problems
Asthma
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Diabetes
It is estimated that one-third of the people who suffer from chronic conditions do not get the assistance they
need with “activities of daily living” (ADLs), such as bathing, eating, transferring, using the toilet, and dressing.
Ultimately, unmet needs of everyday living lead to worsened health problems, costly treatment, and
unnecessary pain and suffering. All of these are considered preventable and are the responsibility of a well functioning healthcare system.
Sample Solution