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.