Effectiveness of a disease management program for patients with diabetes

Diabetes disease management programs (DDMPs) are proliferating, but their effectiveness in improving quality and mitigating health care spending has been difficult to measure. Using two quasi-experimental methods, this study analyzed the first-year results of a multistate DDMP for people with diabetes sponsored by a national managed care organization. In both analyses, overall cost of care were significantly lower in DDMP sites, and the payer saved more than it spent. Pharmacy costs showed mixed results. Quality scores in the DDMP sites were significantly better than in sites without the program.     

Towards improving care for children with diabetes in Kuwait.

Presents the results of a medical audit of the records of 199 children diagnosed as diabetic and admitted to Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait. Uses the measurement of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) to indicate the levels of control achieved. Finds that the degree of glycaemic control compares favourably with studies done in other hospitals, but unfavourably with specialized diabetic clinics. Proposes that glycaemic control could be improved by provision of the services of specialized support staff such as dietitian, educator, psychologist and health visitor.     

German diabetes management programs improve quality of care and curb costs

This paper reports the results of a large-scale analysis of a nationwide disease management program in Germany for patients with diabetes mellitus. The German program differs markedly from "classic" disease management in the United States. Although it combines important hallmarks of vendor-based disease management and the Chronic Care Model, the German program is based in primary care practices and carried out by physicians, and it draws on their personal relationships with patients to promote adherence to treatment goals and self-management. After four years of follow-up, overall mortality for patients and drug and hospital costs were all significantly lower for patients who participated in the program compared to other insured patients with similar health profiles who were not in the program. These results suggest that the German disease management program is a successful strategy for improving chronic illness care.     

Asthma management programs in managed care organizations.

The aim of this work was to investigate how managed care organizations (MCOs) currently approach asthma treatment and management and to determine factors affecting asthma outcomes. A Web-based survey was administered to a national sample of 351 medical directors of MCOs to investigate the asthma management program components in their organizations as well as gaps and barriers in the management of patients with asthma. All 134 (38.2%) responding medical directors reported that their organizations monitor asthma patients. Plans use a variety of asthma management activities, including general member education (90%), member education by mail (87%), self-management education (85%), and provider education (82%). Educational resources (89%) and telephone advice nurse (77%) were the most common self-management strategies offered. Among factors impeding the provision of effective asthma care, noncompliance with asthma treatment, the inappropriate use of medications, and the need for multiple medications were cited by virtually all respondents. Health plans rely on an array of strategies to manage asthma patients. Education encouraging patient self-management is a key component of asthma management programs. However, a considerable number of treatment approach barriers are impeding the achievement of proper asthma care. Without innovative approaches to care, it appears that current MCOs' asthma management efforts may not result in substantial improvements in asthma outcomes.     

Implementing diabetes passports to focus practice reorganization on improving diabetes care.

OBJECTIVE: Although an active role of the patient is often stressed in diabetes care, it is not easily implemented in daily practice. The aim of the study was to measure the effects of introducing a diabetes passport to patients after embedding the passport in the organization of care. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Forty general practice in The Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS: Pre- and post-intervention data were obtained from 993 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients treated in secondary care and patients over 80 years of age were excluded. INTERVENTION: The intervention consisted of clarifying the diabetes care tasks for all practice staff and embedding the diabetes passports in the structured care. Main outcome measure. Self-reported use of the diabetes passport. RESULTS: Diabetes passports were issued to 87% of the patients. After 15 months, 76% of the patients reported that the passport was being used during clinic visits. The process indicators of care improved by 10% on average in the intervention group. However, there were no changes in the outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Diabetes passports can be introduced successfully in structured primary care and they lead to improved effect measures for medical behaviour.     

Increased adherence to cardiac standards of care during participation in cardiac disease management programs.

Adherence to cardiovascular disease standards of care is critically important for minimizing the risk of mortality and morbidity for individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD) and heart failure (HF). The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of cardiac disease management (DM) programs to assist members with their adherence to evidence-based medicine for cardiovascular diseases. A total of 20,202 members with CHD and/or HF were evaluated 12 months prior to the start of DM programs and during their first 12 months of participation in the programs. Members were assessed for their adherence to appropriate cardiac medications. In addition, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) testing rates and clinical control of LDL values (defined as <100 mg/dL) were measured. The association between LDL control and use of lipid-lowering statins also was assessed. During participation in the cardiac programs, members achieved significant improvement in their adherence to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, and beta-blockers (P < 0.0001). The cardiac population also achieved a significant increase in LDL testing rates and statin use (P < 0.0001). More members attained appropriate LDL control in year 1 compared to baseline (36% relative increase), and this improvement was associated with a 40% relative increase in statin use. In summary, participation in these cardiac DM programs assisted members to improve their adherence to cardiac medications and standards of care guidelines. Such improvements in cardiovascular disease care are likely associated with improved quality of life and reduced risk for mortality.     

Physician use of disease management programs.

This paper examines differences in availability, use, and perceived usefulness of disease management programs as reported by generalist and specialist physicians functioning as primary care providers in health plans. Implications of these differences are discussed in terms of the three types of purchasers: private insurers, Medicare, and Medicaid. The design is a cross-sectional mail and telephone mixed-mode survey. The data come from 23 health plans in five states (Florida, New York, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Washington), including six metropolitan areas: Seattle, New York City, Miami, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Denver. The study participants are 1,244 generalist and specialist physicians who contracted with health plans as primary care providers. They were drawn from a 2001 mail and telephone survey of 2,105 generalist and 1,693 specialist physicians serving commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare patients. Physician responses about use of disease management for their patients in the health plan and how useful they thought it was were regressed on physician, physician organization, and physician-health plan relationship characteristics. While generalist physicians are likely to report having disease management programs available and using them, specialists vary greatly in their response to the disease management programs. In contrast to physicians associated with commercial plans, implementation of disease management programs among physicians associated with Medicaid plans varied across states. Primary care providers trained in generalist areas of practice are more likely than specialists functioning as primary care providers to report that disease management programs are available and to use them. They also find them more useful than do specialists.     

Predictive modeling in practice: improving the participant identification process for care management programs using condition-specific cut points

The objective of this study was to optimize predictive modeling in the participant selection process for care management (CM) programs by determining the ideal cut point selection method. Comparisons included: (a) an evidence-based "optimal" cut point versus an "arbitrary" threshold, and (b) condition-specific cut points versus a uniform screening method. Participants comprised adult Medicaid health plan members enrolled during the entire study period (January 2007-December 2008) who had at least 1 of the chronic conditions targeted by the CM programs (n?=?6459). Adjusted Clinical Groups Predictive Modeling (ACG-PM) system risk scores in 2007 were used to predict those with the top 5% highest health care expenditures in 2008. Comparisons of model performance (ie, c statistic, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value) and identified population size were used to assess differences among 3 cut point selection approaches: (a) single arbitrary cut point, (b) single optimal cut point, and (c) condition-specific optimal cut points. The "optimal" cut points (ie, single and condition-specific) both outperformed the "arbitrary" selection process, yielding higher probabilities of correct prediction and sensitivities. The condition-specific optimal cut point approach also exhibited better performance than applying a single optimal cut point uniformly across the entire population regardless of condition (ie, a higher c statistic, specificity, and positive predictive value, although sensitivity was lower), while identifying a more manageable number of members for CM program outreach. CM programs can optimize targeting algorithms by utilizing evidence-based cut points that incorporate condition-specific variations in risk. By efficiently targeting and intervening with future high-cost members, health care costs can be reduced.     

Company introduces standards for disease management programs

American Healthways, a Nashville-based company that provides disease management services recently has released what it calls the nation's first set of standards for evaluating disease management programs.     

The telecardiology revolution: improving the management of cardiac disease in primary care

Telecardiology allows for the remote specialist interpretation of electrocardiographic recordings via telephone transmission. It has the potential to change the way cardiac care is being delivered in the primary care setting. This review discusses the current status of cardiac care in the community, and highlights how telecardiology can help support general practitioners in the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic cardiac disease, as well as provide the potential for screening opportunities in particular patients at risk. Also reviewed is the success of recent trials of a telecardiology service in the north west of England. Thanks to developments in technology and ever decreasing costs, telecardiology has the potential to save time, money and lives. Telecardiology, it would seem, is set to revolutionize cardiac care in the community, making savings and bridging the gap between primary and secondary care.     

健康管理在农村高血压脑血管病高发地区的应用效果评价

目的通过对北京市城乡结合部农民健康体检中发现的高血压等慢性病进行管理所取得的初步效果进行分析,旨在摸索农民群体的健康管理模式。方法自2002年开始,对辖区内40岁以上的农民进行全民健康体检,对体检发现的高血压患者给予健康评估、危险因素干预。结果2007-2008年高血压发病率为11．99％,比2002年26．57％的发病率下降了62．36％。脑血管病的死亡人数由占总死亡人数的68．00％下降到了5．26％,高血压导致的脑卒中的发病率、致残率和病死率显著降低。结论以农村基层医院为主体,利用健康体检方式,对人群进行慢性病筛查,再结合农村社区卫生服务网络健康管理模式,大幅度降低了城乡结合部农民高血压脑血管病的发病率、致残率及病死率。     

Effectiveness of pro-active organizational models in primary care for diabetes patients

BackgroundDemographic changes and chronicity are posing new challenges to health care systems. Our study aimed to examine how effectively the three different types of proactive primary care models adopted by three different regional health care systems in Italy were improving the quality of diabetes management by general practitioners.MethodsA coordinated Italian nationwide project to compare systematically the new proactive organizational models implemented at regional and local level (the MEDINA Project) involved several regions and their local health units (LHUs). A quasi-experimental study was conducted on a large dataset obtained by processing administrative databases. A combined indicator was developed to assess the quality of care delivered by primary care physicians, based on adherence to recommendations concerning patient monitoring and treatment.ResultThe study concerned 602 Italian general practitioners (GPs), 174 of them female, who were caring for a total of 753,366 patients (47,575 of them diabetic). Analyzing a total score, representing global adherence to a quality management of patients with diabetes, confirmed that GPs who had adopted the new model of care for their diabetic patients obtained better results than those who had not, so the new policy was generally effective.ConclusionOur study showed that introducing new, proactive primary care models could sustain efforts made around the world to guarantee good-quality chronic disease management in the primary care setting.     

康健社区糖尿病“知己”健康管理效果分析

目的观察健康管理对于糖尿病患者健康状况的影响。方法根据人选标准选取糖尿病患者80人,随机分为对照组和干预组。干预组进行“知己”健康管理,在干预前后测量糖尿病患者的体重、腰臀围、血压、血糖、糖化血红蛋白以及问：卷调查,根据体检指标和认知能力的变化,评价知己健康管理的效果。结果经过6个月的“知己”健康管理,体重、腰臀围、空腹血糖、餐后2h血糖、糖化血红蛋白、平均每日医疗费支出有所下降,而对糖尿病相关知识、态度认知能力均有所提高,与干预前比较,变化达到了显著水平（P〈0．05）。结论糖尿病的社区健康管理对控制糖尿病病情有一定借鉴意义。     

Effectiveness of planning and management interventions for improving age-appropriate immunization in rural India

Objective

To study the effectiveness of planning and management interventions for ensuring children in India are immunized at the appropriate age.

Methods

The study involved children aged less than 18 months recruited from Haryana, India, in 2005–2006: 4336 in a pre-intervention cohort and 5213 in a post-intervention cohort. In addition, immunization of 814 hospitalized children from outside the study area was also assessed. Operational barriers to age-appropriate immunization with diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccine were investigated by monitoring vaccination coverage, observing immunization sessions and interviewing parents and health-care providers. An intervention package was developed, with community volunteers playing a pivotal role. Its effectiveness was assessed by monitoring the ages at which the three DPT doses were administered.

Findings

The main reasons for delayed immunization were staff shortages, non-adherence to plans and vaccine being out of stock. In the post-intervention cohort, 70% received a third DPT dose before the age of 6 months, significantly more than in the pre-intervention cohort (62%; P = 0.002). In addition, the mean age at which the first, second and third DPT doses were administered decreased by 17, 21 and 34 days, respectively, in the study area over a period of 18 months (P for trend < 0.0001). No change was observed in hospitalized children from outside the study area.

Conclusion

An intervention package involving community volunteers significantly improved age-appropriate DPT immunization in India. The Indian Government’s intention to recruit village-based volunteers as part of a health sector reform aimed at decentralizing administration could help increase timely immunization.     

Performance improvement in pain management for home care and hospice programs

This performance improvement project was undertaken to determine staff competency in pain management in several home care and hospice programs. The process used involved identifying and establishing the project, diagnosing the cause, remedying the cause, and holding the gains. Once the problem was identified and confirmed, the group worked to improve the competency of staff.