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ABOUT THE INTERVENTIONAL INITIATIVE
The Interventional Initiative is a not-for-profit 501c3 organization with a public service mission to educate and engage the public about the value of minimally invasive, image-guided procedures (MIIPs). Our mission is achieved through several public-centric multimedia production and social media initiatives. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
In the mid 1900’s, doctors diagnosed many diseases by injecting special dye into the blood vessels and taking moving x-rays. Most patients went on to have surgery, as there were no alternatives. |
Then, one day, Dr. Charles Dotter (an Interventional Radiologist) had a very big idea...and it changed everything. Dotter had the radical notion that he could do more than just see the problem...once inside the body, he could fix it. And in 1964, he did just that. This was the beginning of a revolution in medicine towards treating disease with Minimally-Invasive, Image-guided (MIIP) approaches ..... Without a Scalpel.
Today, MIIPs can be done as an alternative to surgery or to assist with surgery or sometimes when there is no surgical option at all. MIIPs can treat a wide range of diseases including cancer, stroke, aneurysms, blocked blood vessels, infections, infertility and other women's health conditions, pediatric diseases, and trauma. But, what if you or a family member were ill but did not know your treatment options? In fact, most people have never heard of MIIPs, even if one could save their life. |
WHY WE CARE
The US. Department of Health and Human Services called a lack of health literacy a "critical problem", and it is not unique to patients.
- Even the most astute primary care providers have little familiarity with the breadth of MIIPs options, which limits their ability to inform patients of their MIIPs options.
- Though MIIPs offer cost savings, many hospital administrators and policy makers are unaware of their value and do not promote them at the institutional and systems levels.
Interventional Radiologists and other specially-trained physicians perform these cutting-edge procedures all across the world, but most people have never heard of them. Most have no idea that minimally invasive, image-guided procedures exist and if these procedures could help them. Advances in this field happen so fast that it is hard to keep up or even understand what is out there. For some patients, IR treatments are their only hope. Not every disease can be solved this way, but many can. We formed this nonprofit group to talk with people about the value of minimally invasive, image-guided solutions:
- Procedures are performed through a pinhole so patients leave with only a band-aid.
- Patients are kept whole and avoid painful alternatives.
- Patients often have less time in the hospital and can return to their normal lives sooner.
- MIIPs typically cost much less than surgical alternatives.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We believe that people deserve to understand their options so they can choose what is best for them and their families. Patients empowered to make informed healthcare decisions have better outcomes. Increased public awareness about MIIPs will lead to- More informed healthcare choices
- Better access to MIIPs
- Better healthcare outcomes
- Overall healthcare cost savings as MIIPs are better utilized
- Greater allocation of healthcare resources to support MIIPs
- More funding of research and innovation to advance MIIPs
OUR COMMITTMENT TO HEALTH LITERACY
The Interventional Initiative members are trained in the Center's for Disease Control and Prevention's Health Literacy for Public Health Professionals and have thorough knowledge of the Federal Plain Writing Act. Click here to learn more about health literacy.
If your organization is interested the II's Health Media for the Public professional services, please contact us at info@theii.org.
