Pioneered by Prof. Kate Lorig of California's Stanford University, at the Stanford Patient Education Research Center (http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/), self-management programmes for people with chronic health conditions have been tested and evaluated for over 30 years.

Prof. Lorig designed the Chronic Disease Self-Management Programmes (http://patienteducation.stanford.edu/programs/cdsmp.html) to help people gain self-confidence in their ability to manage their symptoms and to understand how their health problems affect their lives. The programmes have been evaluated in numerous published studies. These studies found that people who participated in the programme, when compared to people who did not, improved their healthful behaviours and improved their health status.

CEART PatientWise has two Master Trainers that were trained by the Stanford Team.

CEART PatientWise Master Trainers and tutors strictly adhere to the principles and methods of the Stanford model.

The Expert Patient Programme in the UK has used the Stanford Model since 1980 their website www.expertpatients.co.uk is an excellent source for further information.

The Stanford Model is also used by Arthritis Care in the UK. CEART PatientWise has been pleased to have access to The Expert Patient Programme and Arthritis Care for on-going external training and assessment