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Respiratory Disease Management
Our Respiratory Disease Management program is designed
to assist your employees that have Asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Management of the disease keeps employees healthy
and working; resulting in fewer days lost to poor health and greater
productivity. Through effective management people that are afflicted
with respiratory issues can lead healthy and active lives, making
them more productive members of your workforce.
Asthma
More Americans than ever before are suffering from asthma. It is one of this country's most common and costly diseases. Asthma is a disease of the lungs in which the airways become blocked or narrowed causing breathing difficulty. Asthma is commonly divided into two types: allergic (extrinsic) asthma and non-allergic (intrinsic) asthma. There is still much research that needs to be done to fully understand how to prevent, treat and cure asthma. But, with proper management, people can live healthy and active lives.
More than an estimated 20 million people in the
United States have asthma. This health problem results in
thousands of hospital stays each year. Each year billions of dollars
are spent on the treatment of asthma. Symptoms include difficulty
breathing, wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest. In severe
cases, asthma can be deadly.
In America:
- For adults, asthma is the fourth leading cause
of work absenteeism resulting in nearly 10 million missed or
lost workdays each year, resulting in a total cost of nearly
$5 billion in total lost productivity.
- Asthma accounts for one-quarter of all emergency
room visits in the U.S. each year.
- Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization
in children.
- The annual cost of asthma is estimated
to be nearly $20 billion.
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is
a term referring to two lung diseases, chronic bronchitis and
emphysema, that are characterized by obstruction to airflow that
interferes with normal breathing. Both of these conditions frequently
co-exist, hence physicians prefer the term COPD.
There are an estimated 12 million people in the
United States who have COPD. It is likely that an additional 12
million or more COPD cases (those in patients with minimal or
no symptoms at all) are undiagnosed. Thus, the true prevalence
of COPD may be as high as 24 million cases.
- COPD is the fourth
leading cause of death in America.
- In 2007, the cost
to the nation for COPD was approximately $42.6 billion,
including $26.7 billion in direct health care expenditures,
$8.0 billion in indirect morbidity and $7.9 billion in indirect
mortality costs.
Quality Care Partners' Respiratory Disease Management Program
is a unique model which centers on the patient and includes coordination
of care through the physician, education, community pharmacists,
the employer and the QCP Disease Management Department. Through
monthly intervention with a community pharmacist, visits
with their physician and contact with QCP, participants learn
how to better manage their disease and enjoy a healthier, happier
lifestyle.
Employers who provide a respiratory disease management
program for their employees realize demonstrated dollar-for-dollar
savings by reducing the number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations
due to asthma and COPD. Beyond this, the incalculable benefits
of reduced absenteeism and improved productivity translate into
higher margins and happier, healthier workplace environments.
To learn more about our Respiratory Disease Management Program
and how we can help your employees lead healthier, happier, more
productive lives, contact us for more information.
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