Much attention is being paid lately to programs to help employers to better control health benefit costs by focusing on the management of long term chronic disease states. This is what we commonly refer to as Disease Management. CMC currently offers disease management and health coaching for Diabetes, Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Asthma, Smoking Cessation, and Weight Loss.
Diabetes Example:
Diabetes is one of the more prevalent diseases that occur and if properly controlled can be a manageable expense for a health plan. On the other hand uncontrolled diabetes can have serious long term complications and significant expense consequences. Diabetes is an excellent example of a chronic disease that requires more than simply good prescription utilization compliance. Much education time is also necessary to help the patient understand their disease and the importance their health habits influence their well being. Clinical pharmacists and nurses are specially trained in diabetes education and patient communication. These clinicians optimize the plan established by the patient's physician. Pharmacists who have expertise in diabetes review, evaluate, and optimize drug therapy. They are easily accessible and are available to work directly with diabetes patients.
Disease management programs work most effectively when nurses, pharmacists, and physicians work as a team. CMC philosophy uses this team approach as we encourage patients in the self management of their overall health.
Clinical and economic outcomes are measured in CMC's disease management programs. Each group will see improvement in clinical markers (i.e. lab values, BP, weight, etc.), improvement in patient's quality of life and patient's knowledge of the disease, and a decrease in overall health care cost (i.e. hospitalizations, ER visits and complications of the disease).
For more information about these programs, please call CMC at 423-928-7898.