Evidence-Based Outcomes

Change in approach saves hospitals money ; When doctors collaborate in treating patients with chronic illnesses, costs drop, an experiment finds. JOSIE HUANG Staff Writer . Portland Press Herald ; Portland, Me. [Portland, Me]09 Nov 2004: B1.

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ABSTRACT (ABSTRACT) Correction published Wednesday, November 10, 2004: A health care story on Page B1 Tuesday should have said

that a new treatment approach allowed MaineHealth, the state's largest hospital company, to avoid more than $1

million in treatment costs. The savings did not benefit MaineHealth directly. It was an editor's error.

MaineHealth, which operates in 10 of the state's 16 counties, released results of the initiative at a time when

hospitals are being identified as a top cost-driver in Maine's health care system. Gov. John Baldacci's health

reforms include capping hospital spending, and a commission studying the hospitals has discussed merging

hospitals to save money.

This so-called "chronic care model" was developed by doctors at a national level in the late 1990s, and has been

explored by other hospitals in Maine but not as extensively as MaineHealth, said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, the state's

top public health official. As the state plans its own chronic care system, it will use MaineHealth's as a model, she

said.

FULL TEXT BETTER HEALTH, LESS COST THROUGH PREVENTIVE CARE Fifty-five percent of asthma patients had to visit the

emergency room before the program, compared with 16 percent after. Sixty-nine percent of diabetic patients made

annual visits to their doctor before the program, compared with 85 percent after. Forty of heart failure patients left

the hospital with discharge instructions before the program, compared with 79 percent after.

Correction published Wednesday, November 10, 2004: A health care story on Page B1 Tuesday should have said

that a new treatment approach allowed MaineHealth, the state's largest hospital company, to avoid more than $1

million in treatment costs. The savings did not benefit MaineHealth directly. It was an editor's error.

A change in the way doctors treat asthma, diabetes and other chronic conditions is boosting patient health and

saving more than $1 million each year for Maine's largest hospital company.

MaineHealth, parent company of Maine Medical Center, announced the results of the experiment Monday. The

experiment involved assigning teams of physicians to the different illnesses. Rather than treating patients for

acute problems in rushed and episodic visits, clinicians in the four groups are trained to work collaboratively to

improve their patients' health.

Asthma patients, for example, are given colorful, easy-to-use lists of written instructions on how to monitor their

condition at home, and can contact hospital-based "asthma educators" with questions.

Clinicians, meanwhile, receive the most up-to-date national asthma guidelines. And computerized registries of

asthma patients make it possible for receptionists to call with reminders about appointments and flu shots.

The report released Monday showed that 55 percent of patients had to visit the emergency room before the

program, compared to 16 percent after.

Progress was also made with patients assigned to teams for diabetes, depression and heart failure. Office visits

and tests were more regular and patients were better about taking medication. The drop in hospital readmissions

for heart failure patients - an easy- to-measure benefit - saved the health care system an estimated $1.4 million a

year.

MaineHealth, which operates in 10 of the state's 16 counties, released results of the initiative at a time when

hospitals are being identified as a top cost-driver in Maine's health care system. Gov. John Baldacci's health

reforms include capping hospital spending, and a commission studying the hospitals has discussed merging

hospitals to save money.

Since the collaboratives began in 2002, more than 3,000 patients have participated in the programs. Sally Lemieux

receives educational materials through MaineHealth, and routine calls from a health educator based at

MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta.

"I see this as an extra step that will draw people into care," said Lemieux, 71, a heart patient. "It says there is

someone out there who really does care."

This so-called "chronic care model" was developed by doctors at a national level in the late 1990s, and has been

explored by other hospitals in Maine but not as extensively as MaineHealth, said Dr. Dora Anne Mills, the state's

top public health official. As the state plans its own chronic care system, it will use MaineHealth's as a model, she

said.

Tackling chronic conditions is seen as key to reining in health care costs in Maine. The illnesses account for two-

thirds of health care spending and two-thirds of deaths, Mills said.

There are currently no incentives for health care providers to offer specialized attention to chronic conditions.

Public and private insurers only reimburse for patient visits, tests and procedures.

Dr. Lisa Letourneau, who oversees the four collaboratives, suggested that doctors be financially rewarded and

receive public recognition for significantly improving their patients' health.

"To do these things costs money and goes above and beyond what is a normal part of the doctor's day,"

Letourneau said.

MaineHealth spends up to a $800,000 a year in grants and its own money to operate the four programs, but

Letourneau said it's difficult to quantify the time donated by doctors and their staff.

Staff Writer Josie Huang can be contacted at 791-6364 or at:

jhuang@pressherald.com

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People: Letourneau, Lisa

Publication title: Portland Press Herald; Portland, Me.

Pages: B1

Number of pages: 0

Publication year: 2004

Publication date: Nov 9, 2004

Section: Local &State

Publisher: Portland Newspapers

Place of publication: Portland, Me.

Country of publication: United States

Publication subject: General Interest Periodicals--United States

Source type: Newspapers

Language of publication: English

Document type: NEWSPAPER

ProQuest document ID: 277152849

Document URL: http://ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/2771

52849?accountid=14872

Copyright: Copyright 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

Last updated: 2017-11-05

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