Healthcare Intelligence Network

Diane Flanders, director of coordinated care systems for MassHealth, provided an overview of the unique partnership that is designed to keep its seniors as well as possible, and in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Sarah Keenan, clinical liaison with Medica and Flanders described how to create a coordinated care management approach for dual eligibles during a February 14th audio conference, Managing Transitions to Care for the Dually Eligible Medicare and Medicaid Patient.

With the growth of consumer-driven healthcare, the Internet is playing a large role in disseminating information due to its convenience and its ease of use. John Mills, director of product management with HIP Health Plans, and Kim Bellard, vice president of eMarketing with Highmark Inc. discussed the Web-based tools their companies have implemented to improve the healthcare experience for consumers. John Mills introduced some of the web-based initiatives his company has begun to use, and also discussed the impact of having easily accessible information available on the HIP Web site. Kim Bellard discussed how his company's use of technology helps consumers make informed decisions and their proactive approach to promoting the use of their Web site. Both speakers discussed the benefits as well as the possible challenges and pitfalls of these new ventures, as well as the role that consumer education plays in all arenas of information dissemination. Bellard and Mills examined how healthcare organizations are providing online tools to ensure that consumers have the information they need to not only take more responsibility for their health status, but also to get the right treatment at the right time at the right place during a January 25th audio conference, Using Web Technologies in Consumer-Driven Healthcare for Transparency Decision Support and Health Promotion.

With the growth of consumer-driven healthcare, the Internet is playing a large role in disseminating information due to its convenience and its ease of use. John Mills, director of product management with HIP Health Plans, and Kim Bellard, vice president of eMarketing with Highmark Inc. discussed the Web-based tools their companies have implemented to improve the healthcare experience for consumers. John Mills introduced some of the web-based initiatives his company has begun to use, and also discussed the impact of having easily accessible information available on the HIP Web site. Kim Bellard discussed how his company's use of technology helps consumers make informed decisions and their proactive approach to promoting the use of their Web site. Both speakers discussed the benefits as well as the possible challenges and pitfalls of these new ventures, as well as the role that consumer education plays in all arenas of information dissemination. Bellard and Mills examined how healthcare organizations are providing online tools to ensure that consumers have the information they need to not only take more responsibility for their health status, but also to get the right treatment at the right time at the right place during a January 25th audio conference, Using Web Technologies in Consumer-Driven Healthcare for Transparency Decision Support and Health Promotion.

Dr. Bruce Bagley, medical director of quality improvement with the American Academy of Family Physicians, described his organization's willingness to support physicians as CMS expands its Physician Voluntary Reporting Program (PVRP), the role of electronic medical records in the CMS initiative, and predicted just how long this program will remain voluntary. Participating in PVRP can have a daunting effect on office work flow. Each time CMS adds a measure to PVRP, Beaver Medical Group in Redlands, California has to reconfigure its entire IT system. Dr. Bagley and Dr. Ronald Bangasser, a family practice physician with Beaver, provided an update on the CMS' voluntary reporting program and what impact the program will have on physician practices in 2007 during a January 9th audio conference, CMS' Voluntary Physician Reporting Program: Preparing for the Feedback and 2007 Updates.

Dr. Ronald Bangasser, a family practice physician with Beaver, described the impact that sharing quality data with CMS has had on his organization, his predictions for the expansion of the reporting program, and his view of the recently legislated financial incentives CMS will award to participating physicians beginning in July 2007. Dr. Bruce Bagley, medical director of quality improvement with the American Academy of Family Physicians and Dr. Bangasser provided an update on the CMS' voluntary reporting program and what impact the program will have on physician practices in 2007 during a January 9th audio conference, CMS' Voluntary Physician Reporting Program: Preparing for the Feedback and 2007 Updates.

The NPI implementation deadline is less than 175 days away, but only 1.5 million NPIs have been issued to date. Listen to Matt Wallach, Health Market Science's chief marketing officer, described the wide-reaching implications of NPI use, the ideal management team to direct the implementation effort, and the provider and payor education that must occur to avoid "potentially severe" issues related to the May 2007 deadline. Wallach and Lynn Somers Syrek, director of operations support and NPI project manager at Coventry Health Plans, described what steps organizations need to take to ensure compliance by the May 2007 NPI deadline during a December 12th audio conference, NPI: Strategies for an Implementation Process To Meet the May 2007 Deadline.

Lynn Somers Syrek, director of operations support and NPI project manager at Coventry Health Plans, described how Coventry is preparing for the NPI deadline and the type of training the organization is providing to its employees. Matt Wallach, Health Market Science's chief marketing officer, and Syrek described what steps organizations need to take to ensure compliance by the May 2007 NPI deadline during a December 12th audio conference, NPI: Strategies for an Implementation Process To Meet the May 2007 Deadline.

Miscommunication during the care transition puts elderly patients at risk for reduced quality of care, poorer outcomes and unnecessary procedures, according to Gregg Lehman, president and CEO of Inspiris. He defines the key players on the care transition team, suggests strategies for improving communications during this crucial phase and describes his organization's approach to dual eligibles who find themselves at this healthcare crossroad. Lehman, along with Danielle Butin, director of health services at Oxford Health Plans, a United Healthcare Company, described how their organizations are coordinating the care of Medicare patients as they transition through the healthcare system to minimize costly episodes of care during a November 30th audio conference, Managing Transitions to Care for Medicare Patients to Avoid Costly Inpatient Admissions.

Colleen Perkins, health strategies consultant with Mayo Clinic Health Management Resources, describes the type of individuals that make telephonic health coaching calls and how participants are assessed for readiness to change during an initial intake call. Perkins also explains the flow of the assessment call and subsequent coaching calls. Ms. Perkins and Dr. Dennis Richling, medical director, vice president for CorSolutions, a Matria Company, presented at an April 5, 2006 audio conference, Telephonic Health Coaching: How It Can Improve Your Population Health Management Programs.

Dr. Dennis Richling, medical director, vice president for CorSolutions, a Matria Company, explains why telephonic health coaching is becoming more relevant with the growth of consumer-directed healthcare plans and patient self-management. Colleen Perkins, health strategies consultant with Mayo Clinic Health Management Resources, and Dr. Richling presented at an April 5, 2006 audio conference, Telephonic Health Coaching: How It Can Improve Your Population Health Management Programs.

Joan McCarthy, vice president and communication consultant at AON Consulting, provides a list of factors that lead to the best open enrollment results. McCarthy and Paul Harris, senior consultant with Hewitt Associates along with Hilary Mitchell, director, voluntary benefits programs with Pitney Bowes presented at a May 24, 2006 audio conference, Health Plan Open Enrollment: Strategies To Improve Results.

Paul Harris, senior consultant with Hewitt Associates, explains why the having a health fair during open enrollment season might be counterproductive and what the ideal timing is for a health fair. Joan McCarthy, vice president and communication consultant at AON Consulting and Harris along with Hilary Mitchell, director, voluntary benefits programs with Pitney Bowes presented at a May 24, 2006 audio conference, Health Plan Open Enrollment: Strategies To Improve Results.

Paul L. Green, director, clinical quality improvement, John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, describes the growth of public interest in hospital report cards and whether these report cards truly make a difference among consumers as they select sites of care. Green and Christine Profita Orok, project leader of cost and quality at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, presented at a June 7, 2006 audio conference, Healthcare Report Cards: How to Get an A+ in the Public Reporting of Healthcare Quality Data.

Christine Profita Orok, project leader of cost and quality at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, defines the goals and principles of its quality reporting program. Paul L. Green, director, clinical quality improvement, John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital and Profita Orok presented at a June 7, 2006 audio conference, Healthcare Report Cards: How to Get an A+ in the Public Reporting of Healthcare Quality Data.

Dr. Susan Butterworth , director of health services at Oregon Health and Science University, describes how to recognize when a patient is ready for self-management, help patients prepare for coaching and the elements of motivational interviewing training, certification, requirements and benefits. Dr. Butterworth and Mr. Roger Reed, executive vice president for marketing operations at Gordian Health Solutions presented at our audio conference, Integrating Health Coaching Into a Comprehensive Health Management Effort.