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Show lists? fill lPCfe'' By MARION WELLS Copley News Service Dr. Andrew Lewin specializes in treating people with high blood pressure. But he doesn't call them patients. He calls them partners. "WE CALL them partners because that's how we see their role and ours," he explained. "Our role is to teach and guide and help and counsel people to be able to take better care of themselves. them-selves. We try to give them tools by which to do this. Then, of course, we follow up to make sure everything's going right." Lewin's clinic, "Pressure Partners," is part of an exciting ex-citing trend in health care which leans more toward self-care and personal responsibility re-sponsibility in medical management. He also is chairman of the High Blood Pressure Council of Los Angeles An-geles and heads high blood pressure research for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "I THINK we're facing a basic question," Lewin said. "Can the health care system take care of people? I believe the answer is 'no' for two reasons. "One reason is that we don't really have a health care system. We have a disease care system. More often than not it only intervenes inter-venes after something goes wrong. "THE second reason is that the job is just overwhelming. There's no way that the government or big brother or anyone else can take care of you. There isn't enough manpower man-power or time or anything else. Unless people take care of themselves they can't achieve health. You're only No. 1 to yourself. You have the most to gain and the most to lose." Besides Lewin, "partners" have access to a clinic staff which includes a nutritionist, an exercise physiologist, a psychologist and two nurse therapists. They're helped and encouraged to make lifestyle changes which can help lower blood pressure and keep it down. "PARTNERS also learn to take their blood pressure themselves and adjust medication accordingly. "The goal is to lower blood pressure, not avoid medication," medica-tion," Lewin said. "But we'd like to get away with the least amount of drugs possible to accomplish the purpose. That means the least possible chance of any side effects. It also saves people money. We hope in time that most or all partners can get along with less medicine or none at all." WILL people carry through with these lifestyle changes? "That is certainly the crux of the problem," Lewis admits. ad-mits. "That's why the clinic is set up the way it is. Support and encouragement and a kick in the pants when necessary neces-sary are very important. We bring people back to the clinic about once a week, sometimes twice a week i six months. we' ,, discussions Muct - s their e;MPle t;: ,thers 'ryitiMn ' 'sameg'-'.-: TS TOO soon , weU the "Jg?, 10 tell k approach jfcpn "8 Wgh bkw'its, Lewin savs arL " 20 m.liiote,, Americans havPi? f 'he cases eitheH diagnosed or no mI"1"-controlled. mI"1"-controlled. Hi So if it does wnn would like to see 5 S "P the idea tucky Colone, programs evervwli j |