|
|
 | | | |
- close
- close
- close
- close
| |||||||||
This excerpt taken from the UNH 8-K filed Dec 19, 2006. Quality and Accessibility of Health Care for People with Diabetes Collaboration focuses on helping patients and their physicians achieve optimal health outcomes in diabetes care New study will identify characteristics of high-performing physicians, resulting in continuing professional development tools for improved patient care Minneapolis and Alexandria, VA (April 4, 2006) – UnitedHealth Group and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) announced today that they have formed a collaboration that combines the respective strengths, competencies and expertise of these two leading health organizations in an initiative to help people with diabetes and their physicians achieve optimal health outcomes. Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease in the United States and affects nearly 21 million children and adults, or seven percent of the U.S. population. “We are very excited about the significant potential this relationship with the American Diabetes Association represents,” said Reed Tuckson, MD, senior vice president, Consumer Health and Medical Care Advancement for UnitedHealth Group. “Based on our extensive experience in organizing health care services on behalf of people with diabetes, we clearly recognize the importance of the ADA’s capabilities in helping to improve the lives of people affected by this challenging disease. We highly respect the ADA’s scientific expertise, the credibility of their clinical programs with physicians, and their unparalleled ability to provide physicians and their patients with meaningful information that supports their efforts in managing this disease.” This collaboration will result in improved patient access to valuable health tools and information; identify physician best practices that lead to the provision of quality diabetes care; and enhance continuing medical education to achieve the highest quality of diabetes care.
“We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with UnitedHealth Group in this joint initiative,” said Robert A. Rizza, MD, President, Medicine and Science, American Diabetes Association. “We know that the vast majority of patients with diabetes are treated by primary care providers and our relationship with UnitedHealth Group will provide an important audience for the interventions ADA has developed, as well as those we will jointly develop. UnitedHealth Group’s ability to reach people through a variety of effective communications channels will enable us to integrate our efforts to produce valuable tools that will benefit their members with diabetes, as well as their network of physicians.” The collaboration will focus on three key elements that will begin this spring.
“As a result of the combination of these programs and the strengths of our two organizations, physicians and their patients will receive meaningful support in their efforts to achieve optimal health outcomes in the treatment of diabetes,” said Dr. Rizza. “As we collaborate on these initiatives we fully expect to discover additional ways to leverage the expertise of our organizations to enhance our shared mission to reach consumers and improve health behaviors for a better quality of life.” |
| |||||||
