Emerging Technologies in Disease Management, a December 1, 2004 audio conference on CD-ROM, provides a high-level overview and practical applications of how disease management outcomes can be improved through the use of technology.

Disease management success comes with providing the right information at the right time to the right patient. Employing the use of technology in disease management efforts provides another opportunity to reach this balance.

During this 90-minute audio conference on CD-ROM, your speakers address details on how information technology is being used in disease management applications, covering new developments in applications, driving adoption and overcoming challenges.

Your expert panel includes:

• Vince Kuraitis, JD, MBA, Principal, Better Health Technologies
• Harry Leider, MD, MBA, FACPE, President, IFI Health Solutions
• Meredith Mathews, MD, Chief Medical Officer, MPH, LifeMasters Supported SelfCare, Inc.

You'll get details on:

• how technologies improve the care of patients with chronic conditions via disease management;
• getting physician buy-in
• what emerging technology applications in disease management will take off in 2005
• overcoming the barriers to implementing new technologies

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 participate and listen to this on CD-ROM.

Here is what some of our participants had to say:

"Dr. Leider’s enthusiasm and the information provided interesting technological advances," said a Health Program Coordinator, from a Health Plan.

"Good information about the use of technology in patient care and management," said Alres Dinnall, Clinical Disease Management Program Coordinator, Health New England.

Who Will Benefit from this audio-conference?

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

About our Panelists:

Vince Kuraitis, JD, MBA

Since 1997 Vince Kuraitis has worked as founder and Principal of Better Health Technologies, LLC (www.bhtinfo.com), a strategy and business development consulting company. BHT creates value for patients and shareholders by leveraging technology, business models and partnerships in areas relating to e-health and chronic disease management. BHT publishes an e-newsletter with 3,000 subscribers in 27 countries (www.bhtinfo.com/pastissues.htm).

He has 20+ years healthcare experience in multiple roles: President, VP Corporate Development, VP operations, management consultant, and marketing executive. His consulting and work projects span 100+ different health care organizations, including hospitals, physician groups, medical devices, pharma, health plans, disease management, e-Health, IT, and others.

Kuraitis’ experience includes: Principal, Better Health Technologies; President, Health Choice (medical call center), VP Corporate Development and VP Specialty Operations, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center; Regional Director of Marketing, National Medical Enterprises (hospital chain with 100 facilities); Senior Consultant, Amherst Associates, national health care management consulting company. His education includes MBA and JD degrees from UCLA, and a BS degree in business administration from USC.

Harry Leider, MD, MBA, FACPE

Dr. Harry Leider, a board certified internist, is President of IFI Health Solutions, a division of Interactive Forums, Inc. a national healthcare consulting, marketing, and medical education company. His responsibilities include providing clients with unique solutions that both improve quality of care and control medical costs.

Dr. Leider has provided his expertise and developed care management tools for a broad range of managed care, physician, and pharmaceutical organizations. His expertise spans the areas of: disease management, case management, leadership training for physician executives, organizational change, clinical quality improvement, and e-health.

Prior to joining Interactive Forums, Dr. Leider was Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Product Strategy for Cardio Continuum, a national disease management company. In this role he provided executive leadership in the areas of clinical program development, product strategy, and physician relations.

In addition to his background in healthcare consulting and disease management, Dr. Leider has over 13 years of experience in managed care. He served as the Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Health Services for HealthNet, a large regional managed care organization in the Midwest.

Dr. Leider obtained a BA from Pennsylvania State University, earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, and while a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar, earned his MBA from the University of Washington. In addition to Internal Medicine, he is board certified in Medical Management and is a fellow of the American College of Physician Executives. He served for six years as an attending physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and as a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. He is currently on the faculty of Thomas Jefferson University.

Meredith Mathews, MD, MPH

Dr. Meredith Mathews was appointed LifeMasters’ chief medical officer in March 2004. He plays a key role in the company’s commitment to high-quality relationships with program participants, empowering them to become active participants in the management of their health and leading to measurable improvement in clinical status and reductions in preventable healthcare utilization. Dr. Mathews’ experience combines chronic disease management and population health improvement, as well as considerable expertise in treating individual patients in a medical practice setting.

Prior to joining LifeMasters, Dr. Mathews was a principal at Dorsey Health Strategies LLC, a nationwide healthcare consulting firm, offering business advisory and regulatory services for clients within the healthcare industry. He previously served as chief medical officer at both the Medica Health Plan in Minnesota and at Premera Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska. Dr. Mathews also served as interim president of the Allina Medical Clinic, overseeing more than 50 clinics and over 400 physicians.

Dr. Mathews’ experience also includes a variety of clinical and management roles. He served as vice president of clinical services and information systems at Pacific Medical Center of Seattle. He was also a full-time faculty member at the University of Washington’s Department of Medicine. Dr. Mathews received his MD and MPH degrees from the University of Washington and completed his residency training at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital and his fellowship training at the University of Washington. He is board-certified in internal medicine and nephrology.