BACKGROUND Heart failure (HF) disease management programs have shown impressive reductions in hospitalizations and mortality, but in studies limited to short time frames and high-risk patient populations. Current guidelines thus only recommend disease management targeted to high-risk patients with HF. METHODS This study applied a new technique to infer the degree to which clinical trials have...

There is an increasing pressure to develop cost-effective strategies to mitigate persistently high levels of rehospitalization and premature mortality associated with chronic heart disease. Beyond pharmacological agents and devices, disease management programs are integral to applying flexible, guideline-based management, coordinating care, and providing individualized support. However, the evi...

Empirical evidence on sustainability of programs that improve the quality of care delivery over time is lacking. Therefore, this study aims to identify the predictive role of short and long term improvements in quality of chronic care delivery on program sustainability. In this longitudinal study, professionals [2010 (T0): n=218, 55% response rate; 2011 (T1): n=300, 68% response rate; 2012 (T2)...

Results for disease management [DM] programs have not been as positive as hoped because of clinical issues, lack of access to capital, and administrative issues. The financial experience of DM programs can be quite volatile. Financial projections that are protocol-based, rather than experience-based, may understate the revenue required and the range of possible costs for a DM program by underst...

BACKGROUND Although enthusiasm is growing for self-management programs for chronic conditions, there are conflicting data regarding their effectiveness and no agreement on their essential components. PURPOSE To assess the effectiveness and essential components of self-management programs for hypertension, osteoarthritis, and diabetes mellitus. DATA SOURCES The authors searched multiple sour...

The need for better management of chronic conditions is urgent. About 141 million people in the United States were living with one or more chronic conditions in 2010, and this number is projected to increase to 171 million by 2030. To address this challenge, many health plans have piloted and rolled out innovative approaches to improving care for their members with chronic conditions. This arti...

background the non-revenue water refers to a difference between the volume of water entering the system and billed authorized consumption. objectives the main purpose of this study is to determine the volume of non-revenue water in order to recognize the factors influencing water losses so that the information gathered can used in non-revenue water reduction management. materials and methods ka...

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder that has all the characteristics of a chronic condition. As with other chronic conditions, OSA requires ongoing management of treatments and problems, such as residual symptoms, deficits and co-morbidities. Also, many OSA patients have modifiable lifestyle factors that contribute to their disease, which could be improved with intervention. As ...