A recent analysis of the Medicare disease management pilot program found no significant differences in hospitalizations for the overwhelming majority of programs participating in the program and questions about return on investment in disease management programs abound. Challenged in this environment, many disease management programs are looking at the ongoing role of disease management in reducing healthcare costs and improving care.

Listen to pre-conference comments from Dr. Dexter Shurney.

During The Strategic Ongoing Role of Disease Management in the Healthcare Continuum: Achieving the ROI, a 60-minute webinar on April 29, 2009, now available as a CD-ROM, via On Demand Web access or as a training DVD, we heard from two leading industry experts who examined how disease management programs can continue to prove their worth and new developments in disease management that are netting results.

These industry experts, Dr. Dexter Shurney, MBA, MPH, medical director, Employee Health and Care Plan at Vanderbilt University and Medical Center, and Dr. Ariel Linden, DrPH, MS, president, Linden Consulting Group, provided the inside details on:

• Establishing physician buy-in for disease management programs and the advantages this physician involvement offers;
• Using incentives within a medical home environment;
• Improving data capture and the use of data at the point of care;
• Understanding the limitations of the commonly used disease management model;
• Incorporating innovative approaches to improve the delivery of chronic care interventions; and
• Maximizing the disease management ROI.

Have questions on our webinar and/or webinar formats? Visit our webinar FAQ.

You can listen to 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 gather around a conference table to listen to the CD, DVD or the On Demand version.

WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS CONFERENCE?

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

ABOUT OUR PANELISTS:

Dr. Ariel Linden

Ariel Linden, Dr.P.H., M.S., is the president of Linden Consulting Group. He began his healthcare career as a clinical scientist in the areas of cardiovascular and pulmonary physiology. Since completing his doctorate at UCLA in health service research in 1997, Dr. Linden has focused on clinical quality improvement, disease management and wellness; specifically evaluation strategies for determining program effectiveness.

Dr. Linden has published over 60 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, letters to the editor, and abstracts. In 2003 he was commissioned to write a position paper for the disease management industry’s trade organization - the Disease Management Association of America (DMAA), and in 2006, Dr. Linden won the DMAA's prestigous award for "Outstanding Journal Article." In 2008, he was named a "Leader in Disease Management" by Managed Healthcare Executive.

Dr. Linden currently holds a joint faculty appointment at Oregon Health and Science University's School of Medicine and School of Nursing. He further contributes to academic advancement as an editorial board member of five medical journals and serves as the U.S. editor of the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice (JECP).

Dr. Linden received his Doctor of Public Health - Health Services Research and Management from the University of California, Los Angeles; a Master’s in Exercise Physiology from California State University, Northridge and a Bachelor of Physical Education/Exercise Science from Wingate Institute, Israel.

Dr. Dexter Shurney

Disease management data mining can help identify the "bombs waiting to explode," which aren't always the high-cost high-volume patients.

Dr. Dexter Shurney, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., is the medical director for the Employee Health and Care Plan for Vanderbilt University and Medical Center. Dr. Shurney has an extensive background in healthcare management and consulting.

Dr. Shurney has distinguished himself as a leader in his profession in numerous ways. In 2007, he was named to chair Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen’s Diabetes Prevention and Health Improvement Board. He serves on the board of the American College of Medical Quality and represents ACMQ as the organization’s delegate to the American Medical Association.

Previous positions that Dr. Shurney has held include chief medical officer for the disease management and wellness company, Healthways; health policy strategist in the department of Global Government Affairs for the biotechnology company Amgen Inc.; chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; and editor of the Journal of Managed Care Physicians.

Dr. Shurney received his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine; a Master of Public Health from the Medical College of Wisconsin and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Detroit Mercy. He is specialty/board certified in preventive medicine and public health.