About 95 million people live with chronic illnesses and greater than sixty percent of the health care expenditure goes toward their direct care. If you put into perspective the loss of productivity due to illness, premature death and disability, it becomes obvious that the cost to the nation at large is enormous. To the extent that this is true, the need for an adequate insight into the care of this particular segment of the population cannot and will not be overemphasized.
Tremendous challenges are faced by the chronically ill as well as the families and friends who cater for them. The task of putting together and coordinating the various needed services is an appreciable one. Despite the diverse nature of chronic conditions, remarkable similitude exists with respect to experiences arising from attempts made at obtaining health services. Critical questions thus arise-----who cares for this the chronically ill, are there opportunities for improving the method of care in the areas of coordination, quality of care, cost control as well as a host of other issues?
Sites J
This site provides access to an educational system, which is complete and self-contained. Making use of the system affords one an experiential opportunity, which in it reflects real life experiences. The system, called chronic care challenges, also helps cultivate insight into other perspectives and helps elucidate as well as develop one's view point. In addition, there are links to other chronic care sites plus a forum for interaction.
In relation to the topic, this site is extremely useful given the diverse nature of the areas of interest that relate to the topic; some of these areas have already been highlighted in the introduction. It provides ranging knowledge of particular disease process, to the daily care challenges that relate to the disease condition and the family involvement. In addition, consideration is given to the legal and ethical issues that are involved in the entire chronic care process.
Overall, one would rate this site as being significantly good. It is easy to use, this is aided by its good organization; it uses and purposes are excellent. The targeted audiences are those who could actually utilize the help it does render to better cope with the challenges that chronic conditions precipitate. Four star rating!
National Chronic Care Consortium
This site is the home page of the National Chronic Care Consortium. The mission of this organization is germane to the topic being addressed by this document. This organization serves as an operational laboratory for the development of prototype chronic care networks. It is also committed to helping the health care industry transfigure its administrative, financing and delivery structures and procedures. Relevant information regarding these issues can be located on this site. In addition, links to other organizations are provided.
The vision of the NCCC is to effectively address the cost and quality concerns of the future. To do this, it believes that purchasers, payers, providers and consumers must work together to create integrated methods of operation that are responsive to the needs and situations of the chronically ill. Products and services as well as projects relating to these issues can be located on this site. The site therefore, targets a wide audience and serves to educate them on issues relating to the mission of the NCCC. It is properly organized and easy to use. I give it four stars * * * *!
Center for Health Care Strategy
The Center for Health Care Strategy is a non-profit organization and resource center affiliated with the Princeton University. It serves as the national program office for two national initiatives—Medicaid Managed Care Program and Building Health Systems for people with Chronic Illnesses. This web site thus addresses these issues. The Medicaid Managed Care Program is geared towards making managed care work for Medicaid recipients who have chronic health and social conditions. The Building Health Systems Program is designed to help models for chronic care that will overcome the problems of the present system. This site therefore, provides useful information relating to the topic in question and serves to be a very resourceful tool.
Although, anybody could benefit from the use of this site, it appears that the target population has to be significantly educated and aware of the intricacies of managed care in relation to the chronically ill. However, the layout of this site and the ease with which it could be utilized is commendable. Overall, this is a four star site!
This site provides a very comprehensive resource for passing on information pertaining to chronic health conditions and disabilities at the national, state and local level. In addition to providing an electronic filofax of national and local authorities, it also makes available statistical data relating to the care of the chronically at the local frontier, and links to caregivers involved in the development of ingenious projects in the respective states. Remarkable information is available at this site. For example, a national press conference that took place in Washington, DC, on November 12 1997 presented highlights from two reports and presentations of different local care delivery projects. Such information would be found on Chronicnet.
Although this site is most beneficial to journalists in obtaining sources, stories, and statistics on chronic care, anyone (including health care providers, consumers and policymakers) can make use of it. This is an easy site to utilize, its purpose is sound, and so is the organization. I give it five stars*****!
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
This is the web site of the largest philanthropy in the United States of America, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This organization is devoted exclusively to health and healthcare. It concentrates grantmaking in three focus areas one of which is the improvement of the services received by people with chronic health conditions. This site provides an enormous amount of information relating to chronic care and many other issues. Because of the involvement of the foundation in the existence of other organizations, one has an ever ending link to these other establishments. From this site one can access a library that provides myriad information on health issues. In relation to chronic care or related issues there is an abundance of documents to educate the eager mind.
This site is remarkably organized and easy to use. Looking at the big picture, it targets every audience and it purposes and uses are inexhaustible. I wish I could give it more than five stars*****!
RELATED DOCUMENTS J J
THE MARKET FOR LONG TERM CARE
The U.S. Long-Term Care Market
This article presents an interesting insight into some of the important issues that relate to long term care. It first sensitizes the reader to the reality of an aging population and the simultaneous increase in chronic disease conditions. The resultant increase in the demand for long term care facilities is then established. The imbalance in the supply and demand for long term care insurance and care management programs is discussed vis-a-vis the cost of insurance for long term care and the health care reimbursement policy. Finally, the complicated nature and overwhelming task of providing and securing the appropriate level of long term care is visited.
This article is excellently germane to the topic and makes very evident the imbalance existent in the system from an economic perspective. Obviously the free market system has failed to equilibrate to the economic forces of demand and supply. It is no surprise therefore, that we have unmet needs and thus a crisis in this arena. However, the document better captures the attention and understanding of an intellectual and may not be appreciated by the lay person thus it may service a limited audience.
HOW PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES FARE IN PREPAID SYSTEMS
This article provides the account of the findings gotten from the analysis of data collected from a Medical Outcomes Study. The increase in concern as to the welfare of the chronically ill within the managed care framework is highlighted. The study was conducted over a four-year period (1986-1990) in three different states and was aimed at determining the differences among the fee-for-service plans, independent practice associations and the HMOs. The variables of interest were access, continuity of care, quality and coordination of care.
In relation to our topic, the variables addressed in this study are very useful given the conclusions that were scientifically arrived at. The presentation is perfect and suitable for every audience, for which reason, it may serve excellently the educational purpose for which it was published.
WHY CHRONIC CARE NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW
This document starts by setting the stage for understanding the fragmented nature of the care received by the chronically ill. It further highlights the predicament of the aging population vis-à-vis a health system that primarily deals with acute care. Possible solutions to the problem of care are discussed in the later part of the article. In addition, the perceived trend or way of the future regarding these issues is given serious consideration.
This article is basically an educational material designed for use by every one. The audience to which it could appeal is wide. Also, it provides a useful insight to some of the outstanding questions that relate to the topic; an example is the question as to what the future may bring for most chronic care programs.
This is a very short but important document that was published in a popular news material. The very nature of the article and the medium of publication create the opportunity to capture the attention of a vast majority of individuals. As the title implies, it briefly discusses an impending crisis that the nation will face in relation to the care of the chronically ill. Although not detailed, it serves the purpose of sensitizing the entire nation to the existence of a problem that requires attention. In doing so, it invariably drives home some of the major issues enumerated in the introductory passage of the topic--chronic care and managed care.
CHRONIC CARE IN AMERICA: A 21st CENTURY CHALLENGE
This is a very comprehensive article, which deals with almost every important issue that relates to chronic care in the United States of America. It provides an introduction to the chronic care perspective and chronic conditions. With respect to the later, it is sited as the major source of illness, disability and death; those at risk and the financial burden on the nation are discussed. A detailed account of the chronic care system is provided vis-à-vis the definition of chronic care, its sources, finances and trends. Stresses in the system such as unmet needs, extensive use of services and crisis in care giving are explored. The article concludes with an exposition of the challenges of the 21st century.
The language used in the article is simple enough to be understood by all and sundry. The graphical illustrations are excellent and fit for advanced explorations if need be. This document has unlimited usage and application and provides a good education on chronic care even as it relates to managed care.
| Note: The information below may contain additional relevant materials and documents. Some of the information may be duplicative. The evaluations depend on the both the student doing the review and the information contained at the time of the review. Sites are subject to change! |