Pennsylvania has a moderate rate of increase in diabetes
hospitalizations, accounting less than 1 per cent over the last two
years, however, diabetes is a serious problem in this region. An amount
of 8 per cent of adults of this state is affected by diabetes, which is
1 per cent above the 7 per cent people affected throughout the country.
Moreover patients from various counties in Western Pennsylvania have
high rates of end-stage kidney disease, one complication of diabetes.
The above mentioned situation alongwith the continuos growing rate in
diabetes hospitalizations which increased 9 per cent in the past five
years to 23,725 during 2004, make them create a new health program to
reduce health care costs through a initiative of health coaches.
According to a study from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment
Council, hospitalizations generated more than $673 million in hospital
charges last year alone, although 40 per cent of these are paid by
health plans.
The main idea of this new iniciative is to lower the health care costs
associated with employees with diabetes and to keep them out of the
hospital, but on the job at same time.
This iniciative will start in January, and will provide “health
coaches” to 4,200 diabetic employees at 10 companies in the region,
under a program that will be launched by the Pittsburgh Business Group
on Health, a coalition that includes human resources and benefits
executives from 62 area companies.
In the new program, employees who volunteer to participate will have
counseling sessions with pharmacists about using diabetic medications.
Health coaches will check patients are getting the tests needed to
monitor their condition and are following recommendations about diet
and exercise.
