DESIGNING A DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - HOW TO GET STARTED

To successfully design and implement disease management programs, clin icians must understand the disease's natural course and cost drivers, base the diagnosis and treatment on the disease process and not the re imbursement schedules, educate and reinforce compliance to improve tre atment outcomes, and focus on commonly occurring and costly chronic di seases. This article describes a 7-step process for developing a disea se management program based on those concepts. The changing role and f unctions of the P and T Committee in disease management programs are a lso presented.