• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Telephonic Care Support Improves Adherence to Standards of Care for Diabetic Population

Posted on: Wednesday, 25 April 2007, 18:00 CDT

Telephonic interventions improve adherence to diabetes standards of care and narrow the gap in chronic care management, according to a Healthways' (NASDAQ: HWAY) peer-reviewed study published this week in the April edition of the American Journal of Managed Care.

In the study, more than 12,000 Healthways' disease management program participants were culled from 13 health plans nationwide over a two year period. When compared with members who did not receive telephonic contact, members who did experienced a greater level of adherence to suggested testing procedures. This is the first large-scale study to demonstrate the impact of telephonic interventions.

Key conclusions include the following:

Called members had a 30 percent improvement in A1C testing compared with members who were not called during year 1 of the program.

Telephonic activity as part of a disease management program can improve the rates of LDL-C and A1C testing in previously non-adherent members with diabetes as well as aid in narrowing the gaps in chronic care management.

Members with high disease burden benefited even more from the diabetes intervention.

"The findings from our study validate the importance of ongoing communication and support in the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes," said Carter Coberley, Ph.D., vice president of the Center for Health Research. "Healthways is pleased to be able to add to the growing library of validated, peer-reviewed outcomes in our industry."

Healthways' Center for Health Research is dedicated to the advancement of health research based in large part on analysis of more than 25 years of Company data. The work of the Center for Health Research is focused on understanding the drivers of health outcomes leveraging advanced analytics and research to focus on effective management of at-risk behaviors and mitigating the progression of disease. This work helps to improve programs that offer support for millions of people to lead healthier, more productive lives. Additional information is available at www.healthways.com/research.

The American Journal of Managed Care is an independent, peer-reviewed forum for the dissemination of research relating to clinical, economic and policy aspect of financing and delivering health care. With a readership of more than 49,000, the journal reaches a key group of clinical decision makers, physicians and other healthcare professionals. It is available on the web at www.ajmc.com.

About Healthways

Healthways is the leading provider of specialized, comprehensive Health and Care SupportSM solutions to help millions of people maintain or improve their health and, as a result, reduce overall healthcare costs. Healthways' programs are designed to help healthy individuals stay healthy, mitigate and slow the progression of disease associated with family or lifestyle risk factors and promote the best possible health for those already affected by disease. Our proven, evidence-based programs provide highly specific and personalized interventions for each individual in a population, irrespective of age or health status, and are delivered to consumers by phone, mail, internet and face-to-face interactions, both domestically and internationally. Healthways also provides a national, fully accredited complementary and alternative Health Provider Network, offering convenient access to individuals who seek health services outside of, and in conjunction with, the traditional healthcare system. For more information, please visit www.healthways.com.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category