Disease management (health)
Disease management in health care refers to a coordinated approach that empowers individuals, families, and groups to manage long-term conditions or diseases effectively outside of traditional medical settings. This system encourages self-care, where patients actively participate in their treatment, supported by a network of medical practitioners, caregivers, and support personnel. Originating from managed health care practices in the late 20th century, disease management is particularly aimed at chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and mental health conditions.
The primary objective of disease management is to enhance the quality of life for patients while simultaneously promoting cost-effectiveness and efficiency in health care delivery. Patients learn to recognize symptoms, administer treatments, and access necessary resources, which helps reduce reliance on hospital visits. The collaborative nature of disease management involves a variety of health professionals, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and nutritionists, who work together to set health goals and provide necessary guidance. Ongoing research continues to explore the economic implications and effectiveness of such programs within various health care systems, including Medicare and Medicaid. Overall, disease management represents an evolving approach to health care that combines personal responsibility with professional support for better health outcomes.
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Subject Terms
Disease management (health)
Disease management is an aspect of health care that involves the coordinated use of information and resources for self-care. Self-care is the work of an individual, family, or group to treat disease and improve health outside of medical facilities and continuous care. Disease management is a system in which medical practitioners, support personnel, caregivers, and patients work together to manage a long-term condition or disease. Disease management can not only improve the quality of life for patients but also be more cost effective and efficient. The system is beneficial on multiple levels for population health and personal health.
Overview
Disease management as a practice developed from managed health care, which was popular in the 1970s and 1980s as a system for promoting health care while remaining conscious of benefits, quality, and cost. Managed health care aimed to reduce unnecessary and costly hospitalizations and improve efficiency. It used integrated delivery systems for care and ultimately had ramifications for the health care industry. Disease management also has roots in specialized medicine and service process management.
As it is used in the twenty-first century, disease management is most closely associated with chronic illnesses with long-term implications. Some examples include heart disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, asthma, osteoporosis, HIV, and mental illness. With ailments such as these, the goal of disease management is to best use the available resources for the most effective care; the system is designed not to cure the diseases but rather to facilitate their care. Disease management addresses care and treatment on a daily basis to improve quality of life.
In the case of an ailment such as diabetes, patients using disease-management programs are able to administer their own insulin shots, either by themselves or with assistance. They also recognize warning signs when problems arise and know where to find resources when they need assistance. These patients have support but are also able to practice self-care, which limits the costs and resources involved in visits to hospitals and doctor’s offices. Another example is children with asthma who are taught to use their medical inhalers from a young age.
In the health-care industry, there are corporations that provide disease-management services. They assist in setting health goals, offering resources, and providing medical technology, as well as record keeping and case management. Medical personnel involved in disease management include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, and physical therapists, in addition to professionals who work in medical economics, statistics, and human resources. Health-condition management is personalized and collaborative, and its cost-effectiveness is the subject of ongoing studies related to medical care, Medicare and Medicaid, and government legislation.
Bibliography
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Elissen, Arianne M. J., et al. “Advancing Current Approaches to Disease Management Evaluation: Capitalizing on Heterogeneity to Understand What Works and for Whom.” BMC Medical Research Methodology 13.1 (2013): 1–12. Web. 18 Oct. 2013.
Magnezi, Racheli, et al. “Disease Management Programs: Barriers and Benefits.” American Journal of Managed Care 19.4 (2013): 140–47. Print.
Nielsen, Annegrete Juul, and Casper Bruun Jensen. “Travelling Frictions: Global Disease Self-Management, Local Comparisons and Emergent Patients.” Science & Technology Studies 26.2 (2013): 61–79. Web. 18 Oct. 2013.
Ory, Marcia G., et al. “National Study of Chronic Disease Self-Management: Six-Month Outcome Findings.” Journal of Aging and Health 25.7 (2013): 1258–74. Print.
Shaw, Susan J., et al. “Chronic Disease Self-Management and Health Literacy in Four Ethnic Groups.” Advancing Research in Health Literacy.Ed. Scott C. Ratzan. Supp. to Journal of Health Communication 17.3 (2012): 67–81. Print.
Smidth, Margrethe, et al. “Developing an Active Implementation Model for a Chronic Disease Management Program.” International Journal of Integrated Care 13.2 (2013): 1–16. Web. 18 Oct. 2013.
Thomas, Nicola, and Rosamund Bryar. “An Evaluation of a Self-Management Package for People with Diabetes at Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease.” Primary Health Care Research & Development 14.3 (2013): 270–80. Print.