Chronic Disease Management

These programs basically coordinate all the different services one person needs to make sure their disease is managed effectively. Take for instance, a person with congestive heart failure. Usually individuals with this disease must watch their diet and weight - two things that are controlled by the individual. A disease management program would monitor the patient's vital signs, such as blood pressure and weight, as well as help him learn how to eat better and exercise.

By managing a person's disease, it has been found to reduce readmissions to the hospital, as well as emergency rooms. Telehealth also plays a vital role in disease management because it monitors vital signs on a more frequent basis and alerts the homecare agency as soon as a change takes place, before it becomes serious, such as a weight gain.

Evidence-Based Research

PHA is partnering with the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine on a project to examine the degree to which contact with a patient in the home can reduce the likelihood of being admitted to the hospital or emergency department as well as how much it might improve self care knowledge and behavior related to their chronic illness. The research uses state-of-science protocols for the management of Diabetes and Congestive Heart Failure to guide the care of your patient in the home.