NEWS RELEASE
March 21, 2000

Michigan Arthritis Action Plan Public Meetings to be held

Meetings in Grand Rapids, Troy and Gaylord

The Michigan Department of Community Health and the Arthritis Foundation are developing a Michigan Arthritis Action Plan and have asked a committee of experts to come up with suggestions on how to reduce the burden of arthritis. The committee, chaired by Michelle Glazier, Executive Director of the Arthritis Foundation Michigan Chapter and David Fox, MD, Chief of Rheumatology at the University of Michigan, is turning to the public for input.

"Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States," said James K. Haveman, Jr., Director of the Department of Community Health. "To help improve care for persons with arthritis, it is vitally important to get input from people who understand the disease and who have experience with the medical system. Once this valuable public information has been gathered, it will be extremely helpful as the Michigan Arthritis Action Plan is developed."

People with arthritis, their family members and their medical providers are invited to share their ideas with the committee at the public hearings. The question is "What could realistically be done in Michigan to reduce the burden from arthritic conditions?" Examples of the type of input needed are:

• What services are already available for people with arthritis?
• What barriers prevent people with arthritis from getting the care or information they need?
• What opportunities exist for improving services for people with arthritic conditions?

The arthritic conditions being considered are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, and fibromyalgia.

The first meeting will be held in Grand Rapids on March 28, 2000, in the Steelcase Corporate Headquarters Theater, 901 44th Street, SE. The scheduled guests will speak from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. After that, public comments will be received until 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be hosted by the Kent County Health Department, Mary Free Bed Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, and the Arthritis Foundation.

The second meeting will be held in Troy on April 4, 2000, at the Michigan State University Management Education Center Conference and Banquet Facility, 911 Square Lake Road, Room 106. The scheduled guests will speak from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. After that, public comments will be received until 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be hosted by the Oakland County Health Division, the Greater Detroit Area Health Council, and the Arthritis Foundation.

The third meeting will be held in Gaylord on April 27, 2000, at the Otsego Club, 696 M-32 East, Gaylord. The scheduled guests will speak from 1:00 p.m to approximately 3:30 p.m. After that, public comments will be received until 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be hosted by the Northwest Community Health Agency, the North Central Council of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, and the Arthritis Foundation.

Input can also be supplied by mail, fax, and electronic mail. Send suggestions by May 1, 2000 to Dr. Karen Petersmarck, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Control, Department of Community Health, P.O. Box 30195, Lansing, MI 48909. The fax number is 517-335-9397, and the E-mail address is PetersmarckK@state.mi.us.

For information about the locations of the discovery meetings, call the Arthritis Foundation at 800-968-3030.