The Collaborative Forum » Blog Introduction

Strong Communication and Medical Management Skills Produce Better Outcomes

Randy Williams — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:27:23 +0000

A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (from McGill University in Montreal) examined patient medication adherence and concluded that a physician’s medical management and communication skills influenced whether a patient stuck with the regimen. Given the significant impact medication adherence has on healthcare quality, costs, and outcomes, we all have a stake in figuring out what makes patients adhere to doctors’ treatment recommendations.

The study found doctors with strong communication skills had the lowest noncompliance levels and concluded that these findings are significant because they point to possible steps providers and healthcare organizations could take to improve medication adherence by educating and training physicians. Researchers felt that the more communicative physicians may have had better results “either because they followed up with their patients more effectively, or their patients were more motivated to report problems.”

Communication is key! This study bears out the importance of communicating effectively, to get better outcomes. We know that and see that all of the time. (more…)

No tags for this post.

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Yet Another Study on Readmission Rates for Heart Failure Patients

Randy Williams — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:08:28 +0000

In the vein of my post last week, there is yet another new study that discusses hospital readmissions for heart failure patients: this one published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Over the past 15 years or so, hospitals have been discharging patients after shorter stays in order to cut costs. However, the JAMA study of Medicare heart-failure patients from 1993-2006, showed that more patients are returning to the hospital for additional care within a month of their initial treatment.

This is the very same problem I saw in my work as a cardiologist, which is why I founded Pharos Innovations to develop Tel-Assurance^â in the first place. With “in the trenches” patient care experience rather than simply a technology or marketing vantage point, we understood the root causes of frequent readmissions. Namely, challenges with individuals modifying their behavior. (more…)

No tags for this post.

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

A Beacon of Light in Transforming Healthcare Delivery

Randy Williams — Sat, 08 May 2010 19:36:42 +0000

Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it awarded grants totaling $220 million to organizations across 15 communities that will be pilot sites for the comprehensive use of health information technology in transforming healthcare delivery. We should all be very heartened by this news.

In establishing this Beacon Community Program, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has taken a significant lesson from past chronic care management demonstrations. Through the advanced use of I.T. the Beacon Communities are set to tackle specific goals of improving healthcare and population health status. They will address obesity and diabetes management; preventable emergency department visits and re-hospitalizations; increased immunizations; better adherence to smoking cessation; and appropriate cancer screening guidelines, among others. (more…)

No tags for this post.

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh

Can Healthcare Delivery Be Transformed?

Randy Williams — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:50:36 +0000

Today we launch an exciting and daunting endeavor: The Collaborative Forum. The Forum, while organized by Pharos Innovations, is intended to be a broad ranging, and hopefully, an impactful and enduring discussion of the most compelling challenge facing American Healthcare. No, not increasing healthcare coverage…that seems relatively easy. No, not restructuring payment to incent value…that, too seems relatively easy.

Our goal is something far more complex, and one that cannot be accomplished without Collaboration…to see the delivery of healthcare in America truly transformed. (more…)

Feed enhanced by Better Feed from Ozh