Stevens Health, Technology, and Society roundtable: October 31

HOBOKEN, N.J. — The examination of clinical, technical, managerial and financial components of healthcare delivery to the non hospital-bound asthmatic and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) patient will be the topic of Stevens Institute of Technology’s next healthcare roundtable, to be held Wednesday, October 31, 2007 , from 3-5 p.m. in Room 122 of The Babbio Center (located on 6 th and River Streets in Hoboken , NJ ).

Roundtable participants will discuss the role of mobile information system platforms, portable spirometry, web-based specialist networks, smoking cessation efforts, nursing home and home care organization support, nutrition and exercise, and other related factors.

Approximately 20 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma, defined as a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway causing shortness of breath, tightness of the chest, coughing and wheezing. In addition, asthma and allergies strike 1 out of 4 Americans. The economic impact of treating asthma is sizable. For example:

• --Direct health care costs for asthma in the United States total $20 billion annually, $5 billion of which are for prescription drugs.
• --In 2003, Americans made 110 million visits to hospital emergency rooms, approximately 25% due to respiratory diseases.

Currently, it is estimated that 20 million people in the United States are diagnosed with COPD, an umbrella term used to describe lung disease associated with airflow obstruction. Most generally, emphysema and chronic bronchitis, either alone or combined, fall into this category. COPD is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the US and is projected to be the third leading cause of death by the year 2020. Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor and is directly related to the progression of this disease. The economic impact of COPD, like asthma, is sizable. For example:

• -- The total estimated cost of COPD in 2002 was $32 billion—$18 billion for direct costs and $14 million for indirect costs.
• -- Cigarette smoking is the primary cause of COPD, and passive smoking carries serious risks, especially for children and those chronically exposed.

The forum will provide professionals from diverse backgrounds—including researchers, physicians, vendors, and healthcare administrators—the opportunity to discuss obstacles and solutions for enhancing healthcare delivery to these patients. Patrick A. Berzinski, Director of University Communications at Stevens, will moderate the forum.

About Stevens Institute of Technology

Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.

Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.  

For the latest news about Stevens, please visit StevensNewsService.com.