diabetes 2

Pennsylvania has a moderate rate of increase in diabetes hospitalizations
accounting less than 1 per cent over the last two years
however
diabetes is a serious problem in this region. An amount of 8 per cent of adults of this state is affected by diabetes
which is 1 per cent above the 7 per cent people affected throughout the country. Moreover patients from various counties in Western Pennsylvania have high rates of end-stage kidney disease
one complication of diabetes.

The above mentioned situation alongwith the continuos growing rate in diabetes hospitalizations which increased 9 per cent in the past five years to 23
725
during 2004
make them create a new health program to reduce health care costs through a initiative of health coaches.

According to a study from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
hospitalizations generated more than $673 million in hospital charges last year alone
although 40 per cent of these are paid by health plans.

The main idea of this new iniciative is to lower the health care costs associated with employees with diabetes and to keep them out of the hospital
but on the job at same time.

This iniciative will start in January
and will provide “health coaches” to 4
200
diabetic employees at 10 companies in the region
under a program that will be launched by the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health
a coalition that includes human resources and benefits executives from 62 area companies.

In the new program
employees who volunteer to participate will have counseling sessions with pharmacists about using diabetic medications. Health coaches will check patients are getting the tests needed to monitor their condition and are following recommendations about diet and exercise.