The Patient Revolution

Chapter 1

Introduction

Pain Points

One thing that many of us SAS employees have in common, aside from our love for free M&M's and Zumba class at lunch, is something a little less glamorous. It's unfortunately pain: back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, you name it. But it isn't unique to SAS. Many corporations, especially large software companies like us, share the same challenge. With over 5,000 people on our Cary, NC, campus, we definitely have our fair share of hunched-over-their-computer-screen employees.

Don't take me wrong, though; SAS isn't one of Fortune's top places to work for nothing. While we have world-class healthcare, a wonderful fitness center, and an ergonomics department all onsite, we, however, can't escape the fact that some jobs require long periods of sitting. Well, it turns out that sitting is really bad for you and can evolve into some serious chronic pain. And unfortunately, the M&M's don't relieve pain.

Chronic pain has become so widespread that one out of three Americans suffers from it and it costs our nation over $600 billion a year, which is more than the yearly costs for cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.¹ That's probably the least alarming statistic. Lower back pain, for example, affects 80 percent of the adult population and is the number-one cause of lost workdays in the United States.² And often, that's just the beginning of the vicious pain cycle; chronic pain can lead to obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes, and to injuries and ...