Contents | Journals

Media

ELMO Introduced

Medi-Span has introduced new middleware, called ELMO (Electronic Library of Medical Objects), that makes integration of Medi-Span data with pharmacy software programs easier. For more information, see Medi-Span's new website www.medispan.com or call 800/428-4495.

Sourcebook Released

Faulkner & Gray has released The 1998 Health Network & Alliance Sourcebook. The comprehensive volume examines health care marketing strategies, provider-insurer relationships, government purchasing programs, legislation and regulations, mergers and acquisitions, and much more. Available at $265 plus postage and handling. Order by calling 212/967--7180 or via the Web.

Responding to Consumers

The authors of Changing Health Care: Creating Tomorrow's Winning Health Enterprise Today, forecast that today's health care organizations will have to transform themselves to respond to a new breed of savvy consumers. "Few health care organizations will survive or succeed without undergoing transformation," said Ken Jennings, co-author of Changing Health Care and a partner in Anderson Consulting's health care practice. "They are beginning to realize that what kept them going in the past will not necessarily serve them well in the future."

Savvy new consumers are assuming greater responsibility for their own care, arming themselves with previously restricted information and redefining the very nature of health care services, said Kurt Miller, co-author of Changing Health Care and also a partner in Andersen Consulting's health care practice. "Understanding today's sophisticated consumer is the cornerstone for any organization planning a successful future."

The 295-page book addresses the role of managed care in health care throughout its analysis. To order Changing Health Care (ISBN 1-888232-18-8) call Knowledge Exchange at 310/394-5995.

Improving Patient Outcomes

In Disease Management: A Systems Approach to Improving Patient Outcomes, twenty-three authors draw from their work in clinical practice, research consulting, and academia to offer a broad range of perspectives on the challenges and rewards of implementing a disease management system. They outline the theoretical and practical elements of four key success factors-outcomes analysis and measurement, actuarial issues, disease considerations, and clinical practice guidelines-and present an eight-step process for setting up a disease management system specific to various settings. This book covers the impact of disease management strategies on such key industry sectors and stakeholders as pharmaceutical companies, managed care organizations, and home care and case management groups. Acknowledging the high level of risk associated with the development of this new form of health care delivery, the authors discuss actuarial issues and address the opportunities and obstacles of forming strategic business alliances to share risk with complementary organizations. Call 800/242-2626 to order Disease Management, ISBN 1-55648-168-3; $95.00.

NCPIE/AHCPR Offers Rx Guidelines For Hispanic Consumers

The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE) and the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) has published a 16-page booklet for Hispanic consumers and caregivers, "Prescription Medicines and You: A Consumers Guide," printed in Spanish. The Guide urges consumers to get involved in their prescription medicine use by taking part in decision-making about their treatment, following their treatment plan, and watching for problems and getting help in solving them. For copies of the Spanish version of this booklet (Pub No. 97-0002) contact the AHCPR Publications Clearinghouse at 800/358-9295. An English version is also available; request AHCPR Pub No. 96-0056.