One Clinical Area Where Electronic Benefits May Exceed Paper’s Molecules
By Dr. David Edward Marcinko [Publisher-in-Chief]
www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com
One area where technology assessments, clinical guidelines, and especially eMR aggregated data can make a true difference in patient care is in disease management.
The DMAA
The Disease Management Association of America (DMAA) defines disease management as “a system of coordinated health care interventions and communications for populations with conditions in which patient self-care efforts are significant”.
Disease management supports the physician-patient relationship and places particular significance on the prevention of exacerbations and complications of chronic diseases using evidence-based clinical guidelines and integrating those recommendations into initiatives to empower patients to be active partners with their physicians in managing their conditions.
Disease Targets
Typically, targets for disease management efforts include chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, and heart failure, where patients can be active in self-care and where appropriate lifestyle changes can have a significant favorable impact on illness progression.
Link: Front Matter BoMP – 3
Outcomes Measurement
The DMAA also emphasizes the importance of process and outcomes measurement and evaluation, along with using the data to influence management of the condition.
Assessment
Although claims and administrative data can be used to measure and evaluate selected processes and outcomes, eMRs will be needed to capture the full spectrum of data for analyzing illness response to disease management programs and to support necessary changes in care plans to improve both intermediate outcomes (such as lab values), and long-range goals (such as the prevention of illness exacerbations, managing co-orbidities, and halting the progression of complications).
Is this where eMRs can shine far and above traditional ink and paper medical records?
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Filed under: Information Technology, Quality Initiatives, Research & Development | Tagged: david marcinko, Disease Management, Disease Management Association of America, EMRs, evidence based medicine, evidence-based clinical guidelines, www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com | 1 Comment »