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?
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.
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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