Diabetes Disease Management: Practical Strategies for Identifying At-Risk Populations and Avoiding Complications, a June 28, 2006 audio conference on CD-ROM, examines case studies of diabetes disease management programs.

Click here to listen to some pre-conference comments from our audio conference presenters.

A disease management focus on diabetes can not only reduce the healthcare costs related to diabetes, but can also impact the costs of the many chronic conditions that are exacerbated by diabetes.

During this 90-minute audio conference, industry experts David Larsen, director of quality improvement at SelectHealth, and Dr. Jaan Sidorov, medical director with Geisinger Health Plan, describe how their programs identify potential members for diabetes disease management programs, the interventions given and the impact these programs are having on patient outcomes and the bottom line.

You will get details on how to:

• Identify patients that would benefit from diabetes disease management programs or those at-risk for diabetes;
• Stratify diabetes patients for appropriate interventions;
• Structure and design program elements for maximum benefit;
• Work with primary care physicians to increase program effectiveness;
• Motivate participants to make the behavior changes that can impact diabetes; and
• Manage the comorbidities associated with diabetes.

Here's what participants said about our live program:

"This conference gave good ideas that we can incorporate," according to Nancy Heinrich, health and wellness program manager with America's Health Choice Medical Plans Inc.

"This program gave new techniques for reaching and intervening with patients," according to Dayna Girouard, coordinator diabetes education with Health Alliance Hospital, Umas Memorial Healthcare

"The presenters were very articulate about their respective programs. Excellent ideas that have been tried by them," said Lorraine Dumas with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Listen to some pre-conference comments from our expert presenters:

David Larsen gives a brief overview on how technology is having a big impact on performance improvement and HEDIS results at SelectHealth:

Special Audio Bonus!

During the June 28th audio conference participants had the unique opportunity to hear excerpts from SelectHealth’s interactive voice response system for diabetic disease management participants.

You can "attend" this program right in your office and enjoy significant savings – no travel time or hassle; no hotel expenses. It’s so convenient! Invite your staff members to listen in.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS AUDIO CONFERENCE?

CEOs, medical directors, disease management directors, managers and coordinators, health plan executives, care management nurses, business development and strategic planning directors.

ABOUT YOUR PANELISTS:

David Larsen, RN, MHA

David L. Larsen is the director of quality improvement for SelectHealth, formerly IHC Health Plans, in Salt Lake City, for the past 16 years and has worked for Intermountain Healthcare for 22 years. SelectHealth is a mixed model HMO with approximately 475,000 members in Utah and Idaho. Intermountain Healthcare is an integrated healthcare delivery system with 19 hospitals and 450 employed physicians.

Larsen is responsible for maintaining NCQA accreditation, as well as HEDIS performance measurement.

Larsen also fills the role of data manager for Intermountain’s Primary Care Clinical Program. He is responsible for the oversight and development of chronic disease registries, performance measurement and web based reporting systems, quality improvement pay for performance incentives for physicians, and directs patient improvement interventions related to chronic illnesses.

Larsen led initiatives that were successful in applying for and receiving the 2001 American Association of Health Plans National Exemplary Practice Program Award for Diabetes, the 2002 George W. Merck Quality Award for cholesterol management, and the 2003 Best Provider Engagement Initiative Award from the Disease Management Association of America.

Larsen was a past co-chair of America’s Health Insurance Plans Subcommittee on Accreditation and Industry Standards.

Larsen has a Master of Health Administration from the Graduate School of Management at Brigham Young University, and a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Brigham Young University.

Jaan Sidorov M.D.

Jaan Sidorov, M.D., is the medical director of Geisinger Health Plan’s Care Coordination Department and a practicing primary care internist with an office located in the Department of General Internal Medicine in the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Penn.

Dr. Sidorov previously served as a chief resident, at Reading (Penn.) Hospital. He has numerous publications of original research, and has also presented his findings in workshops and presentations at local and national research meetings.

He received his medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, and did his internship and residency at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, N.H. Dr. Sidorov also has a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from Marywood University in Scranton, Penn.

He received additional training in health services research through the Faculty Development Fellowship of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and in managed care through the American Association of Health Plans certified managed care executive program. His interests include physician education, health services research, and disease state management.