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The Business of Health Care Report
Today, my topic is the increasing
interest in preventive health care and disease management. Often, when I talk about
the challenges facing Texas Health Resources, I mention that the hospitals and emergency
departments are operating at full capacity and that ways must be found to stem the flow
of patients to these facilities. Otherwise, there will never be enough hospitals for a
growing - and aging - population. Business owners, meanwhile, are
facing escalating health insurance premiums. While this is a complex issue, some
companies have turned to disease management tools to help employees stay healthy and
avoid frequent use of their health plans, especially for emergency services. Some companies work with their
employees to identify those at risk for chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes
and hypertension. By promoting preventive health care measures for their employees,
such as blood sugar and blood pressure monitoring, exercise and smoking cessation
programs, business leaders enhance their employees' quality of life while benefiting
from greater employee productivity and decreased health care expenses. Texas Health Resources has a
convenient way for individuals to proactively evaluate their risk for health problems
with the Health Risk Assessment Tool posted at TexasHealth.org. The Risk Assessment consists of
easy-to-complete questions plus individualized health data, including blood pressure
and cholesterol levels and family health history. Password protected, visitors to the
site can evaluate the risks indicated, share the information with a physician and
implement preventive measures to maintain well being. It's a good place to start for
anyone interested in disease management and prevention, and a step in the right direction
as health care struggles to care for an ever-larger population. For Texas Health Resources
and its family of hospitals - Harris Methodist Hospitals, Presbyterian
Healthcare System and Arlington Memorial Hospital - I'm CEO
Doug Hawthorne
with "The Business of Health Care Report" on NewsRadio 1080 KRLD.
©
2003 Texas Health Resources |
I'm Doug Hawthorne, President and CEO of Texas Health Resources, with
"The Business of Health Care Report" on 