Diabetes Disease Management Organizational Change Plan

Diabetes Disease Management Organizational Change Plan
Diabetes is a chronic disease in the United States and is reaching epidemic proportions. Private health care organizations have incorporated disease management programs to assist insured members in managing diabetes care and treatment. In an effort to contain cost, disease management programs employ nurses, dieticians, and physicians to provide diabetic education, resources, and incentive programs as a collaborative effort to assist members with this chronic disease (Edwards, 1999).
The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 25.8 million individuals of all ages have been diagnosed with diabetes. This chronic disease is the seventh leading cause of death. Medical treatment for a diabetic is twice as high as it is for a non-diabetic patient. The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimated that in 2007 medical treatment for diabetics cost $174 billion dollars (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011). This paper will provide documentation of a declining disease management program and the development of a change within the organizational program. The goal of the change will provide patient, physician, nurse collaboration, diabetic education, and, assistance with self-management to close gaps in care (Amundson, O'Connor, Solberg, Asche, Woods, Parker, & Crain, 2009).
Mercy Care Management is a large integrated health care system with a self-funded insurance plan. Fifty percent of the annual net is spent on members with chronic disease. Diabetes is one of the top chronic disease categories cost drivers. Since the inception of the program, the cost of care has continued to move in an upward trend. The program currently offers an incentive program for diabetic members. The