In my last post, I outlined the current need for a health revolution. Cost, lack of evidence-based practices, and perhaps greatest of all, cultural change, are the issues preventing a system of health from being sustainable and effective.
We are in need of a change in our approach to health. Over time, we’ve seen the attempts at incremental change. We’ve witnessed this in our recent health care reform debates. But at this point in time, if you continue to do what you’ve done, you will get what you’ve got thus far. And that is a “system” that is broken in many places.
A system of health needs to be seamless along the continuum of health – from disease to the absence of disease. It needs to focus on the mechanisms of health and on optimizing human performance within all contexts of health. It needs to be truly client-focused. It needs to be built on a foundation of learning and transformation at the level of the individual, in order to then foster cultural change socially and politically.
We are in need of a Revolution – and it starts today with the unveiling of the Smart Life Project.
"Bring on the brand new renaissance because I think I am ready" (Tragically Hip, "Three Pistols”)
The Smart Life Project's vision is a sustainable, synergistic and seamless system of health for all with a learning-based community ecosystem to support it. Community members will have the tools to Live A Smart Life – tools that connect competent self care strategies, learning pathways, systems thinking, personal mastery, health mentorship, and evidence-based solutions.
The Smart Life Project will create global awareness of the root causes of the current economic, social, political, and clinical crisis that is our current system of health and health care. The Smart Life Project is a learning-based organization for profound health innovation and cultural change.
"Let patients do for themselves something that historically required the skill of professionals" (Christenson)
The Smart Life Project's mission is to provide people with the tools to Live A Smart Life, and a community ecosystem in which to do so. The long-term goal is for profound disruptive health innovation and cultural change.
The Smart Life Project's mission begins with learning and mentorship. The learning organization is focused on changing behaviors, perceptions, and beliefs, not just "what you do or what you eat". It emphasizes "capacity building" on a personal and systemic level.
The Smart Life Project will establish evidence-based "Competencies of Self Care" and learning pathways which involve a cultural shift: moving towards health instead of moving away from injury and disease. A number of white papers – including the "Model For Human Performance", "Evidence-Based Cellular Physiology", and "EPIC Solutions For Health Care Reform" - will serve as a philosophical foundation.
The Smart Life Project will create a community that has a shared vision of health. The community ecosystem will promote a synergistic mentoring relationship between client, clinician, and health mentor.
There are three key focus areas within the Smart Life Project:
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Smart Physio: Physiotherapy And Injury Recovery;
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Smart Sport: Performance; and
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Smart Life Institute: Prevention and Education Platform.
Each focus area implements the Smart Life Project vision and mission via a variety capacity-building programs and content solutions, in individual and group contexts.
The Smart Life Project will create global awareness of the root causes of the current economic, social, political, and clinical crisis that is our current system of health and health care. By applying principles of disruptive innovation, the Smart Life Project will create a sustainable system of health for all.
As this innovative approach takes root, expect to see some significant changes in the Smart Life Project website. Community registration is free.
If you would like more information on the Smart Life Project or if you embrace its shared vision and would like to be involved in its efforts, please contact me at ab [at] allanbesselink [dot] com. Together we can change the health of a nation – and of the world.
Photo credits: abesselink
"Running Injuries: Etiology And Recovery- Based Treatment" (co-author Bridget Clark, PT) appears in the recently released third edition of "
" by S. Brent Brotzman, MD and Robert C. Manske, PT.
