Health Dialog Decision Aids Receive Certification from Washington State Health Care Authority
September 11 2018 - 10:00AM
Business Wire
Spinal stenosis and serious illness tools help
patients avoid unnecessary surgery and make preference-sensitive
decisions
Health Dialog, a leading provider of integrated population
health management solutions for health plans, risk-bearing
providers and self-insured employers, announced today that the
Washington State Health Care Authority has certified its spinal
stenosis and serious illness decision aids. These aids are part of
Health Dialog’s library of decision aids—one of the most
comprehensive in the world—which have collectively earned the
company more than 100 industry awards for content, ease-of-use and
design.
Decision aids are tools that facilitate shared decision making
(SDM), a collaborative process between physicians and patients
designed to improve quality of care and reduce costs. Decision aids
offer evidence-based information about treatment choices to help
patients understand their options, consider personal values and
lifestyle, and prepare them to speak with their provider to make a
treatment decision. Nearly two decades of data show SDM helps
patients choose less invasive care, achieve better health outcomes
and be happier with both their care and their provider by engaging
them in their treatment choice. Many of the nation’s leading
medical organizations support the use of SDM, including the
National Quality Forum, Institute of Medicine (now National Academy
of Medicine), U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and American
Medical Association.
Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of spaces in the spine, which
puts pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerves. Health Dialog’s
decision aid, “Spinal Stenosis: Choosing the Right Treatment for
You,” compares surgical and non-surgical treatment options to help
patients decide, together with their healthcare providers, on the
best treatment choice to manage pain, limited function and other
symptoms.
The Health Care Authority also certified Health Dialog’s
“Medical Care for Serious Illness” decision aid, intended for
people with a serious illness that is or may become life
threatening. The decision aid stresses the importance of advance
care planning to avoid treatments that patients may not want,
particularly in situations when they can no longer make medical
decisions independently for themselves. It also addresses
palliative care, potentially life-sustaining care and hospice.
Using the aid, patients and their loved ones can make sensitive,
individualized choices when faced with a life-threatening
diagnosis.
“The State of Washington’s certification
process has fostered the widespread use of shared
decision making and provides a process to identify quality
decision aids,” said Peter Goldbach, M.D., Chief
Medical Officer for Health Dialog. “We are proud to have our
spinal stenosis and serious illness aids join the Health Dialog
decision aids previously certified by the State. As these shared
decision-making resources become more common in the healthcare
system, empowered patients are able to make healthcare choices that
are more informed and better aligned with their values, lifestyle
and preferences.”
The Health Care Authority’s chief medical officer certifies
decision aids in consultation with a review panel and input from
subject matter experts. More information about the State of
Washington’s program, including the listing of certified decision
aids, is available at:
https://www.hca.wa.gov/about-hca/healthier-washington/certified-aids
About Health Dialog:
Health Dialog is a leading provider of population health
management solutions. The company works with the nation’s largest
third-party payers, employers and providers to improve the health
and wellness of their members, employees and patients while
reducing costs and improving performance in key quality measures,
such as NCQA’s HEDIS and CMS’ Stars ratings. Health Dialog’s unique
capabilities include analytics, a patient portal, a multi-channel
coaching platform, shared decision-making tools and a 24/7 nurse
line. For more information, visit www.healthdialog.com. Health
Dialog is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rite Aid Corporation
(NYSE:RAD).
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Health DialogMedia Inquiries:Shanti Skiffingtonmobile:
617-921-0808shanti.skiffington@gmail.com
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