A managed care model for home infusion therapy.
Home infusion therapy began in response to the medical needs of the patients. In the traditional model, products and services were delivered in the home on a physician's prescription. Limitations related to medical quality management and cost were recognized in this model. Because of these limitations, the changes that continue to occur in health care delivery and the increase in number and acuity of patients requiring non-hospital services, a managed care model was conceived and implemented at the University of Minnesota Medical School and Hospital. This model emphasizes physician-based case management, total quality management, a point of contact medical information system, outcomes assessment and management, and research and education activities designed to evaluate and improve home infusion therapies. The model was implemented through a public-private partnership. This application of managed care to home infusion therapies is described in this communication.
Cerra
F B
FB
Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, USA.
Kaplan
E L
EL
Schwarzenberg
S J
SJ
Soltis
R
R
Twiggs
L
L
D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000592:standards*; D018718:Home Infusion Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000592:standards*; D008910:Minnesota; D017146:Models, Organizational; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards