Disease Management

By Laurie Zelaya

Disease Management

InformationTechnology

Prevention and management of disease is a responsibility shared between providers and patients alike. There are however some hindrances to ensuring patients have access to the care needed to manage their health. Those that reside in rural areas are often an under served patient population due to lack of resources, such as necessary specialists in their area (Kutscher, 2014). One of the responses to this is the utilization of information technology to improve communication and access to care through the utilization of telemedicine. The use of virtual-care technology allows for providers to attend to patient needs without unnecessary visits, especially those for patients that have difficulty with transportation or live far from care locations.

 

  • roughly half of all American adults are living with at least one chronic health disease
  • chronic disease accounts for seventy percent of the top ten causes for death
  • chronic disease is responsible for over eighty five percent of healthcare spending

(CDC, 2016)

Importance of Disease Management 

A Unique Opportunity for Change

Source: http://copebehavaioral.net/?p=91

Value of Telemedicine 

for Disease Management

As healthcare reform affects the way physicians are reimbursed, an increased incentive exists to create ease of access for patients. When patients have access to their provider through telemedicine, they are afforded the opportunity to interact with their provider and become better educated about managing their health. Reducing health disparities is a result of an effective quality process, one that can help ensure maximum reimbursement (Hart-Hester, et. al., 2008). While adopting a telemedicine system is costly, the potential it allows for improving patient outcomes is a relevant payoff worthy of investment. 

Telemedicine & Chronic Disease 

With the combination of telemedicine and remote monitoring systems for particular conditions, greater patient engagement and a reduction in patient deaths and readmissions is experienced (Bird, 2013). While telemedicine is an evolving advancement to the traditional brick and mortar clinical office visit, statistics have shown successful chronic disease management through virtual-care for the following conditions:

  • Diabetes
  • Congestive Heart Failure
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
  • Stroke
  • Arthritis
  • Parkinson's 

 

Improved Interaction

(Bashshur, et. al., 2014)

Disease Management & the Future of American Healthcare

In light of the enormity of chronic disease occurrence and its dire implications for both patients and the U.S. economy,  improvement in chronic disease management calls for lasting change. Telemedicine is a method of providing collaborative care that has been proven as an effective tool for creating ease of access and allowing for improved communication resulting in a proactive co-management of chronic disease.

This technology supports positive patient outcomes and supports efforts of attending providers as wearable technology provides the opportunity for quicker response time from providers. The early intervention afforded through this technology can mean the difference between life and death or quality of life for many affected by chronic disease (NORC University of Chicago, 2012).

The value of continuing to apply proven, innovated health-supportive technologies cannot be understated.

Bashshur, R. L., Shannon, G. W., Smith, B. R., Alverson, D. C., Antoniotti, N., Barsan, W. G., …  
    Yellowlees, P. (2014). The Empirical Foundations of Telemedicine Interventions for Chronic 
    Disease Management. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health, 20(9), 769–800. 
    http://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2014.9981
Bird, Julie. (2013). Telehealth improves home management of chronic disease.Retrieved from: 
    http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/telehealth-improves-home-management-chronic-disease/2013-
    12-10
CDC. (2016). Chronic Disease. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/
Hart-Hester, Susan, et al.. (2008). "Impact of creating a pay for quality improvement (P4QI)  
    incentive program on healthcare disparity: leveraging HIT in rural hospitals and small 
    physician offices." Perspectives in health information management 5:14.
Kutscher, Beth. (2014). Telemedicine gives rural patients better access to healthcare. 
    Retrieved from:               

​
 
http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20140308/MAGAZINE/303089979

References

​NORC University of Chicago. (2012). Case study report: patient provider telehealth network - 
    using telehealth to manage chronic disease. Retrieved from 
    https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/RCCHCandPHS_CaseStudy.pdf
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