Improving the use of data sources in disease management programs

Disease management has become an increasingly popular tool used to manage p eople with chronic diseases in managed care organizations. The implementati on of these programs, coupled with pressures to document quality and contro l costs, has increased the need for information regarding the health servic es provided to patients. This paper gives an overview of selected topics in volved in data collection, including medical record review, databases, auto mated systems, and disease management software. The preliminary uses of the Internet and wireless technology are also discussed. Efficient data collection requires the identification of pertinent informat ion from clinical, patient-reported, and economic data. Several sources pro vide this. The medical record is considered the gold standard for providing clinical information. However, collecting this data can be time consuming and expensive. Claims that databases have gained popularity for their compr ehensiveness and accessibility are eroded by the lack of detailed clinical information. Direct communication with patients via telephone is commonly u sed in disease management programs, but its effectiveness as a data collect ion tool is not well documented. The use of the Internet and wireless techn ology in data collection is an exciting opportunity, since it provides inte ractive access between providers, patients, and the managed care organizati on. In most cases, a combination of data sources will be required to collect al l the necessary information. However, claims databases, medical chart revie w, and telephone interviews are the backbone of data collection in disease management. The computerization of medical information systems, and use of the Internet and wireless technologies, should facilitate future data colle ction.