title: Population management takes disease management to the next level.
abstract: The increased development and implementation of disease management programs reflect attempts by a growing number of health plans to reduce costs while providing patients with high-quality care. Unfortunately, few of these programs are generating optimal cost savings. Instituting initiatives for a select group of plan members afflicted with a disease will not produce the positive results that a comprehensive population management program can. Through the integration, coordination, and management of all of a population's healthcare needs, diabetes population management programs are producing significantly greater cost savings than are other disease management programs, including those for diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Treatment Centers of America, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ketner
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology