The United States today is the residence of a significantly large number of people with chronic diseases, especially hypertension and diabetes. Undoubtedly, there are many more diseases in chronic form, but hypertension is one of the most common, and rates of diabetes are also unsatisfactorily high (Dzau & Balatbat, 2019). According to statistics, more than seventy percent of all healthcare expenditures go toward treating this same population (Van Alsten & Harris, 2020). With this in mind, the most effective cost reductions may be in this area due to improved management.
First, the improvement in the quality of care can lead to cost reductions by reducing the use of particular services caused by complications: hospitalizations or emergencies. This goal can be achieved by competent disease management and adhering to the norms and rules of a particular treatment program (Allegrante et al., 2020). A sufficient level of process optimization and the presence of a professional treating staff in the necessary number will be able to help improve the indicators.
Secondly, the system of registration and accounting should be universalized and unified. This act can facilitate, among other things, the joint practice that brings together different groups of healthcare providers, which should optimize and reduce the final costs (Van Alsten & Harris, 2020). Regular feedback and reporting will be facilitated by such a system as well, and the efficiency of control will increase while reducing costs.
Furthermore, increased patient education in controlling one’s own condition is necessary. Self-management established on evidence-based practice guidelines should be communicated to patients (Allegrante et al., 2020). Additional counseling, call centers, or even home visits will eventually lead to increased self-management of people with chronic conditions. It will ultimately significantly reduce the number of unnecessary services they receive and, moreover, the cost.
References
Allegrante, J. P., Wells, M. T., & Peterson, J. C. (2019). Interventions to support behavioral self-management of chronic diseases. Annual Review of Public Health, 40(1), 127–146. Web.
Dzau, V. J., & Balatbat, C. A. (2019). Future of hypertension: The need for transformation. Hypertension, 74(3), 450–457. Web.
Van Alsten, S. C., & Harris, J. K. (2020). Cost-related nonadherence and mortality in patients with chronic disease: A multiyear investigation, National Health Interview Survey, 2000-2014. Preventing Chronic Disease, 17(200244), E151. Web.