Disease management reporting is a skill which few have mastered. In fact, roughly 70% of disease management outcomes reports contain fundamental errors invalidating their results...right in the report itself.
If you are a writer of these reports it is critical to spot these errors before the customer does. If you are a reader of these reports, it is imperative for you to spot these errors before you accept the findings. In both cases, no one wants to sign off on a report in which someone else finds flaws.
But clearly mistakes are rampant and escape altogether too many people's notice. For instance:
- One vendor labels all their utilization graphs "PMPM" when all the statistics are Per Member Per Year...and for three years no one noticed that all the statistics were off by a factor of twelve.
- A very large health plan routinely reports cost savings percentages in excess of admission and ER reduction percentages, which of course is impossible...and no benefits consultant or employer has noticed.
- Two vendors often claim clinical improvements because drug use goes up in the clinical outcomes slide...and then later in the report take credit for savings in drug costs because they declined overall, adjusted for their view of trend.
- Several vendors and health plans routinely report actuarial results which are not tested and checked against utilization changes. And when someone does check them, it is almost invariably the case that the actuarial result cannot be supported.
- Medicaid programs in Indiana, Connecticut and Mississippi have all made basic mistakes in their RFPs or outcomes reports...and no one noticed.
Many, many such examples can be cited. Today, though, more and more people are finding them -- using the Critical Outcomes Report Analysis skills developed in sessions such as this one. Finding these fallacies and mistakes early and completely prevents embarrassment and increases the credibility of the remaining findings. The flip side: If you don't find them, the chances are increasing that someone else will.
Learning how to find them is the agenda for this Critical Outcomes Report Analysis seminar. In the months since its introduction, it has proven extremely effective and popular.
Don't take our word for it. More than 100 people have been through these courses and, of those, more than 50 people are already certified. They are listed at http://dismgmt.com/CORA_honorroll.htm and simply ask any of them if they think this is a worthwhile course and certification.
If You Take the Course and Pass the Test
Upon completion of the examination, once the results have been returned to DMPC, examination registrants may rejoin the audioconference for a review and discussion of the examination. Those taking the exam for practice may also rejoin, and self-score their own tests when we go through the answers and analysis.
If your position involves reviewing evaluation reports provided by vendors regarding the services they provide to you, I would strongly encourage you to consider taking this course. I took the class from Al last winter and found it to be a very enlightening and eye opening experience.
Even though I had research methods and stat courses at both the undergrad and grad levels, Al and this course taught me a number of important things to consider when reviewing reports from my vendors. I have found the information from the course to be valuable on a couple of occasions since taking the course. I believe the course was well worth the investment. As a result of the course, I feel that I am now in a much better position to review and if necessary, question my vendors about the results they are presenting to us and know from what I speak.
William McPeck, Certified Worksite Wellness Program Consultant, Work-Life Certified Professional, Certified Health Promotion Director, Director, Employee Health and Safety, Maine State Government
©2008 Health Resources Publishing