Volume 13, Number 3: May 2005
Looking Ahead with You in Mind
We all know that quality health care is costly and that those costs have risen steadily over the past several years. So, what is your health plan doing to meet the challenges of affordability and quality? "The list is long and growing!" says Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, Chief Medical Officer of Capital Health Plan. "We are leaving no stone unturned in our quest to manage quality and cost for our members by investing now for the future. We believe that better information for physicians and patients is essential for promoting wellness, preventing disease, and reducing inefficiency." Here are just a few of the highlights for 2005.
Electronic Records
Members who obtain care from physician offices in either of our health centers soon will begin experiencing the benefits of a new Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Implementation of the new paperless system will be completed in phases over the course of this year. Paper records are being scanned into the new EMR, linkages with other lab and diagnostic services are being developed, and staff are undergoing in-depth training. Once the conversion is completed, your doctor will have immediate access to your health information and will be prompted automatically for preventive and other services that you need. We have taken on this difficult transition in order to improve our service and to reduce time wasted in searching for information in paper records. Instead we want to spend that time in direct patient care.
CHPConnect & HEALTHWISE
The EMR should not be confused with CHPConnect the secure online personal health record available to all members. CHPConnect will continue to be enhanced this year to allow you to access more of your personal health information. Currently over 2,000 CHP members have registered and logged into their CHPConnect personal health records. There they have accessed information showing their own physician visits, procedures, diagnoses, and prescription drugs, as well as information about health issues, benefits, and copayments. Enhancements are coming this summer to offer members more information and more functionality. Because you are the key to your own long-term health, we want you to have the information you need to stay healthy. Stay tuned to HealthLine for more information or visit us at www.capitalhealth.com.
One great resource available on CHPConnect that you should investigate is HEALTHWISE. This is a great place to find general information about diseases, lab tests, and surgical and diagnostic procedures. If you've ever wondered just what a colonoscopy feels like, or the risks, or the benefits, or whether you should have one, HEALTHWISE is a great place to find answers.
Efficient Access
Further enhancements are underway in our Membership and Claims processing departments as we invest in a Managed Care System that will provide greater efficiency in processing member claims, applications, benefits, and premium billing services. The new system also will help to streamline member access to information, both through CHPConnect and Member Services. Our goal is to provide our members with easy access to services and information. This new system will be in place in the spring of 2006.
Disease Management
Most of your Capital Health Plan premium dollars go directly to paying for health care right here in this community, with less than 5% covering administrative costs. The largest portion goes to caring for people with chronic disease. We are all candidates for hypertension, diabetes,heart disease, or cancer. We know that no one really wants to have multiple chronic diseases, so we are trying to help all of our members stay healthy.
In the disease management area, Capital Health Plan continues to be a model for the nation as we further develop methods for managing chronic disease and providing primary and secondary preventive services. We have expanded the availability of health education classes for our members and have focused efforts on raising the community's awareness of the importance of good nutrition and exercise to avoid future increases in the cost of caring for chronic illness. Besides, a benefit of a healthy lifestyle is that you feel better today while avoiding future disease. So do yourself a favor and follow HealthLine's tips and join a free CHP class.
All of these investments in technology and services translate into more accessible and higher quality health care for youour members. In the long run, higher quality and better accessibility translate into more affordable health care for all. We are excited as we look forward to the contribution that you and Capital Health Plan, in partnership, will make to meet that goal in the days and months ahead.