Making it Work: The Role of Behavior Modification in Disease Management
Manasquan, NJ (PRWEB) July 5, 2005 -
The greatest roadblock to effective disease management programs is often the intended beneficiaries: the patients themselves. In this new age of consumer-driven healthcare, patients are held ever more accountable for adherence and compliance with medical programs. However necessary, modifying accustomed behavior is often a formidable task. Healthcare organizations and providers can provide supplemental tools to optimize disease management outcomes, but above all, patients must take charge of their health.
“Behavior changes are a complex process,” said audio conference panelist conference speaker Dr. Richard Citrin, vice president, EAP solutions at UPMC Health Plan. “We believe that patients themselves are the key elements of behavior change. Care managers must find the correct approach to enabling patients to modify their behavior.”
Discovering and implementing effective approaches can be a frustrating and complicated endeavor. “The Role of Behavior Modification in Disease Management: How You Can Maximize your Program's Effectiveness” an August 10, 2005 audio conference sponsored by the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN) will detail strategies healthcare providers can use to encourage behavior modification to maximize patient wellness. During this 90-minute audio conference, expert panelists will offer techniques to motivate patients to change behavior and reach ultimate goals of improved health and emotional well-being. The audio conference is scheduled for 1:30 p. m. to 3:00 p. m. Eastern time on August 10, 2005. For more details on attending the audio conference, please visit the HIN bookstore.
“We must try to keep the strategies around behavior change simple,” said Dr. Richard Citrin. “My belief is that a person’s going to do what they’re going to do. Our job is to respect the individual’s state of being and provide strategies to support the potential change that they want to or may be going through.”
Joining Dr. Citrin at the audio conference will be panelists Dr. Rick Botelho, professor of family medicine, URMC Family Medicine Center, and Michael Thompson, principal, Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Together, these speakers will tackle challenges to effective disease management interventions and offer strategies for overcoming these obstacles, including:
Identifying participants for disease management programs; Fully engaging participants in your programs; Keeping the motivation going; Changing resistant patients into compliant patients; Structuring effective interventions; Getting your physicians engaged in the process; Selecting tools and resources that are effective in modifying behaviors; Implementing technology to assist patients in behavior modification; and Identifying what incentives can be successful in altering behaviors.
This audio conference is scheduled for 1:30 p. m. to 3:00 p. m. Eastern time on August 10, 2005. It will conclude with a live question-and-answer period during which participants can tap into the speaker’s expertise. A recorded version and printed transcript of this audio conference will be available on CD-ROM in early September. For those who cannot attend the audio conference, please visit the HIN bookstore for information on HIN’s “On-Demand” audio conference re-broadcasts.
This audio conference is designed to benefit medical directors, key health plan executives, performance improvement and quality improvement managers, case managers, risk managers, business development and strategic planning directors, pharmaceutical executives and those responsible for consumer-driven healthcare plans. For more information on the conference, call toll-free (888) 446-3530 or visit the HIN bookstore.
About the Healthcare Intelligence Network---HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073, or visit http://www. hin. com (http://www. hin. com).
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