Benefits of Chronic Disease Management Services

Chronic disease management is a care concept that focuses on improving quality of life and reducing health care costs by using a multidisciplinary treatment approach.

Health care insurers are big fans of disease management programs because the improvement in patient outcomes and reduction in avoidable costs is undeniable. Almost all insurers either have their own disease management programs or contract the program management out to a disease management vendor. While some employers have not picked up on the trend quite as universally, innovative ones have delved into the world of disease management with programs specialized for their workforce demographics.

Patients and the health care system both benefit from chronic disease management services. Patients who use the chronic disease management services provided by Dr. Kavita Rao, M.D., and her team of medical professionals may enjoy:

• Improved quality of life

The goal of all medical care is to improve the patient’s quality of life, and chronic disease management is no different. By focusing on a specific medical condition and coordinating care with a multidisciplinary team of health care professionals, our disease management program addresses all aspects of your health care process. Since diseases have not just physical implications, but also mental, emotional, and social ones, bringing in practitioners from multiple fields provides a more holistic treatment plan that leads to improved patient outcomes.

• Better patient education

A focus of chronic disease management is patient education. The theory is that by learning more about their own disease processes, including identifying symptoms and triggers, the patient can take more control of their care. Patients who use disease management services report better self-monitoring habits and retain more information about their conditions than patients who do not.

• Fewer hospital admissions

Because patients who use chronic disease management services are better able to identify their symptom triggers and respond calmly when symptoms worsen, they avoid using urgent and emergency care and are admitted to the hospital less than patients who do not receive disease management services.

• Lower out-of-pocket costs

Chronic disease management keeps patients out of urgent and emergency care facilities and reduces hospital admissions. That means less money out of your pocket for insurance deductibles, copays, and premiums.

• Improved access to care for marginalized groups

Studies show that marginalized populations, such as children, the elderly, minorities, inner-city residents, and those who earn low incomes, use health care resources more due to inconsistent care for chronic conditions. Chronic disease management services like those provided by Dr. Kavita Rao, M.D. combat this disparity by providing better access to care for these groups who often fall through the cracks of the system. This enhanced care includes:

• • Two convenient office locations in Tampa Bay, one in St. Petersburg and another in Largo
  • Easy access to our team via phone, email, and our website
  • Acceptance of over 30 insurance plans, including all of the major insurers, Medicare, and Tricare
  • Affordable rates for self-pay patients
  • 24/7 access to personal records with our Patient Portal via Healow
  • Access to multiple downloadable forms on our website, which allows patients to get assistance with completing them prior to their appointment, saving time and reducing frustration

Dr. Rao and her team provide competent and compassionate chronic disease management in Tampa Bay for all chronic diseases, including:

• • Diabetes
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Osteoporosis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Dementia
  • Infectious diseases and STDs
  • Asthma management
  • Emphysema
  • Gastrointestinal problems

If you want qualified and comprehensive care for your chronic condition or are caring for a loved one who needs a more structured treatment plan, contact us to set up a disease management appointment. We are accepting new patients and have implemented COVID-19 protocols to keep both our patients and staff safe and healthy. Come find out why our patients trust Dr. Rao and her team as one of Tampa Bay’s best disease management providers.