Clinical Outcomes and Resource Utilization of Well Managed Diabetics in the Military Medical Care System

摘要

Health care for patients over age of 65 is vital in today's world. Determining whether programs affect these patients' resource utilization, such as clinic visits, hospitalizations, and Emergency Room visits, will help to provide better care for them. A retrospective study of patients over 65 was conducted in two phases. Phase I examined Clinical Practice Guidelines from an administrative viewpoint for a sample of diabetics over 65. Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) were developed by clinical researchers to assist disease management by using written algorithms. Phase II examined a Patient Prescription Exercise program developed by a family practice physician within Madigan Army Medical Center. Phase I outcomes showed that if a patient is well managed the number of unscheduled health care encounters is significantly reduced (p= .02). Additionally, chances of them having an unscheduled encounter at all is significantly reduced (p= .017). Phase II outcomes showed that if a patient is enrolled in a patient prescription exercise program their total number of clinic visits was reduced (p= .001). Moreover, their number of total encounters are significantly reduced (p .002). Conclusions drawn from this study show that implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines, and a Patient Prescription Exercise program can significantly reduce the total resources used by participating patients.