We describe a health plan-based herbal resource program designed within the framework of a systems approach to population health improvement. The setting is a not-for-profit, consumer-governed health plan in the Midwestern US. Telephone-based, centralized services facilitate a process of access,...

Disease management relies on a team approach to chronic diseases for which good treatment regimens are known and national data are available. Limitations of and opportunities for disease management programs are explored and a case is presented that the inclusion of social work can enhance the...

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the conscientious application of scientific best practice by clinicians in concert with the patient Disease management programs, currently focused on chronic conditions, provide the most logical launch for these efforts. However, disease management programs must...

An international literature search was conducted to identify studies published since 1995 examining the effects of diabetes self-management education (DSME) in community settings. Of the 24 publications identified, eight were examined to provide a discussion of intervention methods, the use by...

Disease management programs in the US were originally developed for the small minority of patients who consumed a large portion of healthcare resources, were complex cases to manage, or had specific chronic conditions. Although they vary in structure and are hard to describe with a single...

The growing burden of chronic illness has contributed to increasing healthcare costs in the past two decades. Disease management can play an important role in reducing the growth in costs while at the same time improving outcomes. It is important that disease management companies accurately...