title: The price of good intentions. Mo. hospital's asthma initiative aims to reduce unnecessary visits and save HMOs cash, but is it killing its own bottom line?
abstract: Jay Portnoy, left, chief of allergy, asthma and immunology at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., took multitasking to the next level with a special disease-management program that focuses on asthma. Since starting the program in 2001, Children's Mercy has seen a huge decline in asthma-related ER visits and admissions. It's now selling its program to insurers.
authors.forename: Laura B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Benko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D019468:Disease Management; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008923:Missouri