Insurers lead charge for personal medical records

Many major insurers are pushing personal health records for their members to give consumers better access to their healthcare information. Better informed consumers could also bring big savings by helping patients stay healthier and avoiding the need for care for preventable conditions. Health Data Management

Editor’s Note: In light of my e-letter last week, I found this story interesting and important to share. Giving consumers the information they need to make informed decisions is key.

West Virginia turns to Weight Watchers to battle obesity

West Virginia faces more than $100 million in annual costs linked to obesity, and to address the problem, the state will offer as many as 75,000 residents free Weight Watchers weight-loss courses. Yahoo!/Associated Press

Editor’s Note: As case managers know, changing behavior is key to improving health. West Virginia joins other states and managed care plans that are turning toward established programs to assist consumers in understanding the importance of behavior change, as well as providing the tools and support to take the steps need to change behaviors.

U.S. flu pandemic guidelines designed to enable vaccine production

U.S. health authorities are calling for stringent actions, including closing schools and staggering work hours, to slow a severe flu outbreak long enough for vaccines to be produced. The CDC issued guidelines designed around the knowledge that flu viruses attack in waves lasting about two months, and that the government needs to be able to delay a pandemic long enough to produce the proper vaccines. The New York Times

Editor’s Note: This is an important article that all healthcare professionals need to read and investigate within your community what preparation is underway to address natural disasters, terrorist attacks or a pandemic. All “hands will need to be on deck” if and when any of these situations occur. After 9/11, the Surgeon General’s office established the Medical Reserve Corps to begin preparedness in local communities. To learn more, go to: http://www.medicalreservecorps.gov/FindMRC.asp

New Jersey hospital tops Medicare pay-for-performance program

Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey has ranked as the top hospital of 260 hospitals in 38 states participating in Medicare’s demonstration pay-for-performance program. The program, designed to determine if financial incentives can improve patient care, awarded a $744,000 bonus to the hospital for its high-quality care in areas including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, heart bypass surgery, and knee and hip replacement. The Philadelphia Inquirer/AP

Editor’s Note: Kudos to Hackensack University Medical Center for being named the top hospital participating in Medicare’s Pay-4-performance program.Case in Point magazine has a series on quality which began with our Winter 2006 issue and will continue through the April/May 2007 issue, which shows how quality programs are taking center stage in care/case management programs throughout the care continuum.

Side effects discourage full cancer treatment

While drugs such as aromatase inhibitors are effective in treating breast cancer, many women reduce their survival chances by stopping their treatments. Researchers say as many as one-third of such patients stop the drug regimen early because of significant, sometimes debilitating, side effects. Los Angeles Times

Editor’s Note: An important story for case managers who work with cancer patients, as it illustrates how the effectiveness of important therapies that may help prevent recurrence of breast cancer can be impacted by side effects. Understanding and managing side effects can help case managers collaborate more effectively with the oncology team in designing plans to maximize treatment efficacy by minimizing side effects.

An interview with the chairman of Intel on new technologies for healthcare

In an interview, the chairman of Intel Corporation, Craig Barrett, said that healthcare is a primary target for leading technologies, and that new technologies are ready to be used in the field. Barrett also said a plan is under way to bring computers and fast internet access to the developing world. CBS News/Associated Press

Editor’s Note: Case Managers who have an interest in information technology may find this story helpful in evaluating how they may be able to apply their clinical and case/care management expertise in new career opportunities in the field of information technology.

Founder of the South Beach Diet calls for healthcare changes

Arthur Agatston, MD, who introduced the South Beach Diet to the world, says the American healthcare system does little to prevent heart disease because doctors are rewarded more for treating disease than for preventing it. Agatston, who is a world-renowned cardiologist, calls for an overhaul of the health system before it becomes overwhelmed with the health problems of baby boomers. Reuters

Editor’s Note: This article is among the growing body of evidence that there is a sea change developing in today’s healthcare system. There’s an increasing focus on prevention, particularly on educating consumers on how to change behaviors to decrease risk factors associated with chronic conditions. As case/care managers are viewed as educators, this is an area in which you too may need to improve your clinical competence to be more effective.

Massachusetts dental leader spotlights oral health

Under the guidance of dentist Kathleen O’Loughlin, the Dental Service of Massachusetts has maintained a leadership position in providing commercial dental benefits and administering public dental claims. This profile describes O’Loughlin’s rise to her position from her start as a bedside nurse, and her approach to keeping the company successful. Boston Herald

Editor’s Note: From bedside nurse to clinical researcher to dentist to business leader, Kathleen O’Loughlin is an example we can all learn from. Read this overview of her career and note the important message she is trying to spread to corporate America and consumers about oral health.

TennCare insurer plans strategy for early health interventions

Amerigroup, a new insurer under Tennessee’s TennCare system, says it has an aggressive new strategy that involves encouraging members to get to doctors earlier for medical conditions and assigning some members to medical teams that will manage their care more effectively. The Tennessean

Editor’s Note: This article in the Tennessean brings to light a tool that will enable those at risk to access healthcare early so that they can be managed more effectively. Case/care mangers will be front and center in this initiative.

A new study suggests that sexual problems can be signs of more serious conditions

Sexual problems can be signs of serious medical conditions such as heart failure, depression or other ailments, and healthcare professionals should not shy away from asking patients about their sex lives, according to a new study. Researchers say problems such as erectile dysfunction can indicate more severe conditions, but many patients likely aren’t going to volunteer that information unless they’re specifically asked. The Miami Herald/AP

Editor’s Note: This article is a good reminder for case/care mangers and other healthcare professionals that we are responsible to assess patients holistically so that we don’t miss subtle clues that can indicate serious health issues.