Measuring medicine's effects: the outcomes management system
Article Abstract:
Over the last 20 years the rising cost of health care has greatly influenced the restructuring of the US health industry. As a result, patients, payers, and managers of health care organizations are trying to establish greater control and influence over medical practice. It is important for the purchasers of health care to be able to evaluate the value of the services that they are purchasing. To aid in this process, the Minnesota health policy research group (the group that started the health management organization movement) has developed a new tool called the Outcomes Management System (OMS). The purpose of OMS is to generate a data base of information about the effects or outcome of medical care. It will combine information about the types of diagnoses made, the treatments used, the patient's status during the course of medical treatment and the outcome, demographic characteristics, insurance, treatment setting, and satisfaction with the services provided. This information can be used by health care providers to evaluate and choose therapies, to estimate the cost of the treatment, to review the outcome of treatment provided, and to establish standards treating for specific diseases based on the outcome. The OMS system is made up of 'TyPE' (technology of patient experience) specifications that provide information about the diagnosis, treatment, and outcome a specific disease. Currently, the OMS system provides information on diabetes, high blood pressure, low back pain, hip fracture, arthritis, and depression. By the end of 1990, information on 18 different diagnoses will be available. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1991
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Reliability and validity of expected outcomes and barriers for habitual physical activity
Article Abstract:
The reliability and validity of using self-reported data to discover people's perceptions of the likely results of, and barriers to, regular physical exercise were evaluated in two separate studies, one with 243 college students and the other with 968 employees at CONOCO World Headquarters. The survey of college students revealed that self-reported psychological state, body image and health data gave good indications of expected exercise results. Also, the self-reported data concerning the time and effort required, and obstacles gave good indications of perceived barriers to exercise. In the second study, the CONOCO employees reported similar results as to expectations of the results of exercise. Expectations included results pertaining to psychology, body image, health, competition, fun, and social effects. Self-reported data was also found useful for predicting perceived barriers, such as time, effort, obstacles, and health problems. The self-reported data correlated strongly with membership and participation in a health and fitness program at or outside the work site. Self-reported information is a valid and reliable way of measuring the outcome of expectations of exercise in college and workplace populations. Existing social psychology theories of behavior that include values for outcome expectations or perceived barriers can now be used to explain why people adopt and maintain physical fitness programs.
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1989
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Reliability of sensory threshold measurement using a digital vibrogram
Article Abstract:
In many patients, the first sign of certain nerve disorders is an acute sensitivity to vibratory stimuli. These disorders include carpal tunnel syndrome, acute compartment syndromes and neuropathies. One method of monitoring a patient's sensory threshold level is with a digital vibrogram that plots the patient's responses to vibrations of varying frequencies. One device that is reported to produce a reliable vibrogram is a digital vibrometer that is essentially a modified audiometer capable of producing seven frequencies of vibration ranging from 8 to 500 Hz. To test the reliability of the device, a study was conducted of 76 hands; 32 were normal and 44 had possible carpal tunnel syndrome. The study showed a significantly higher level of test-retest reliability between the second and third trials than between the first trial and subsequent trials. This suggests that a test trial is appropriate to allow the patient to become accustomed to the procedure. Once the initial test had been performed, the results for subsequent tests indicated that the vibrometer produced good levels of reliability. The vibrometer can be an important clinical tool, since prompt identification of compression neuropathies makes early intervention possible. Early intervention can frequently reverse the symptoms before degenerative changes take place. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Journal of Occupational Medicine
Subject: Health care industry
ISSN: 0096-1736
Year: 1990
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