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CONTACT INFORMATION:

Patricia Donovan
Voice: 732.528.4468
Fax: 732.292.3073
E-mail: pdonovan@hin.com
Web site: www.hin.com

Patient Registries Used Mostly for DM,
According to HIN e-Survey

July 29, 2008

MANASQUAN, NJ, USA — More than three-quarters of healthcare organizations that employ patient registries are using them for disease and condition management purposes, according to a new white paper on patient registry use in the healthcare industry. The Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN) has released Patient Registries: The Track to Better Quality Healthcare, a complimentary e-summary of the results of its latest e-survey on patient registries. Over 150 employers, health plans, hospitals and health systems, physician practices, service providers and other healthcare professionals responded to HIN's survey.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) defines a patient registry as “an organized system that uses observational study methods to collect uniform data (clinical and other) to evaluate specified outcomes for a population defined by a particular disease, condition or exposure.” In addition to creating realistic views of clinical practices, patient outcomes, safety and comparative effectiveness and supporting evidence development and decision-making, patient registries are associated with improved care for patients with chronic diseases. Survey respondents indicated how they use registries in their organizations and the effects that they've had. To download the complimentary white paper on patient registry use, please visit http://www.hin.com/library/registerprt.html.

"The registry also provides some information related to disease management, improve[s] compliance with preventive services, and can generate reminders for members," said one health plan of their organization's registry use.

Another health plan noted that they "use patient registries to support [their] care management programs" and that their "clinical outcomes have improved over time after a registry [was] initiated."

And a respondent from a disease advocacy group notes that they have been "better able to design and target services."

The four-page Patient Registries: The Track to Better Quality Healthcare white paper also contains commentary from hospitals and health plans on:

• Challenges, benefits and impact patient registries have on their organizations;
  
• Types, purposes and formats of registries; and
  
• Elements included in respondents' patient registries.
  
  

QUOTE ATTRIBUTABLE TO MELANIE MATTHEWS, HIN EXECUTIVE VP AND COO:

Click here for Melanie Matthews's profile.

"Patient registries are crucial in collecting patient data and tracking how your organization is meeting treatment goals and managing its patients' overall health. While the initial challenges of implementing and maintaining patient registries may seem daunting for some organizations, the benefits of these tools are well worth the endeavor."

Please contact Patricia Donovan to arrange an interview or to obtain additional quotes.

About the Healthcare Intelligence Network – HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073, e-mail info@hin.com, or visit http://www.hin.com.

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