Chronic illness is the new acute health care concern. With advances in medical care, more people are living longer, but with chronic conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, depression, diabetes, insomnia and stroke. In addition, the rate of chronic illnesses like autism spectrum disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain and multiple sclerosis are on the rise.

The increased prevalence of chronic diseases threatens to overwhelm government and private health care systems. Change in the understanding and treatment of chronic health conditions, as well as the effects of emotional traumas (such as child and spouse abuse, incest, chronic illness and disability, violent crime, and war) is needed.

Albany Health Management Associates, Inc., offers patients, clinicians, corporations and health care systems a better approach to treating chronic illness, emotional trauma and other types of negative imposed change. It was founded in 1988 by social worker, counselor, researcher and author Patricia A. Fennell, MSW, LCSW-R, who developed the validated Fennell Four Phase™ Model and the resulting Fennell Four Phase™ Treatment (FFPT) approach to helping patients cope with life-altering circumstances.

Because of her success in understanding and treating patients with chronic conditions and trauma, Ms. Fennell is a frequently invited consultant, speaker and health care educator, teaching her approach to understanding and treating chronic illnesses and trauma to professional health associations, government agencies, Fortune 150 companies, university faculty and management consulting groups worldwide. Ms. Fennell also serves often as a spokesperson for chronic illness and trauma-related issues for the national media.