DTP HOPE

Our new free, easy, and quick 2 minute (5 question yes/no) tool expedites savings by earlier identification and problem prevention of complex and potentially chronic problems. Easy trend/scoring tools add much needed value for outcome analysis, earlier corrective feedback and other research potentials. Emergency room use will decrease with tool applications.

Good pilot studies can be done by:

Distribution of the 5 Questions tool to large number of employees of a corporation (ex Cisco or 3M). Ask them to answer the 5 questions for themselves and also answer the following questions:

How many times have you had a health problem in which there was a delayed or incorrect diagnosis.?
Did this delay cause you or payor of bill additional expense?
Would answering the 5 Questions tool likely have helped get you to the better treatment sooner?

I have personally asked a large number of people these questions and about 70% or more say they would have had an earlier correct treatment with less costs and much less grief and/or permanent problems.

Easier access, quality improvement, and lower costs are achieved early with the 5 questions tool described because patients are more involved, and healthcare providers are aware of questions earlier.

With questions: distributed, answered, analyzed, acted on and followed up – amazing changes for better will result. Some of the relevant related studies which fit are referenced below. It is very well known that delays in diagnosis, lack of integration and not connecting the dots early leads to many costly problems. The 5 questions free 2 minute global health assessment tool is a new easily accessible tool which will be leveraged to improve quality and lower costs in a major way. This will result because answering and analyzing the answers triggers more early prevention and integration of evaluation and interventions by all involved.

This tool can be made available to all segments of population in most areas of their life: home, school, work, church and healthcare locations. Motivating methodology for answering questions honestly, analyzing and following up can applied with demonstrated best approaches in specific situations. The process is outlined below and the advantages of combining the Cisco Mobile Care Solution for Healthcare and the 5 question free quick yes/no global assessment tool are obvious.

Incorporating a call center type paradigm as described on my website with trend charts incorporating the 5 areas of tool will add more value.

One approach is to: Distribute 5 question tool, motivate to answer questions, analyze own answers, act on results and follow up. The motivation should include ways of obtaining the quick tips to immediate problem (example back pain or intermittent headache, starter longer term strategy and follow up assistance. Some details about above on my website Basically a starter assistance for help and hope.

Some quick tips for back ache/pain problems and initial strategies can include book references like: Pain Free by Peter Egoscue, friend who has Kaiser Home Health Guide, Call Center Model, promodora model (neighbor advisor before calling Dr or emergency assistance and others to be detailed. Many such are available with and without use of computer/google searches.

Delays in diagnosis and significant errors in diagnosis occur in a large percent (%) of patients (20 -50%). These lead to many costly and chronic problems. In many small surveys I have found 40-80% reporting such events. The costs and grief are immeasurable. A major decrease in this problem would be achieved by applications triggered by the 5 Questions tool. The awareness that relationships of other issues, and the educational spin offs are major. The endocrine system is the communication tool of our total function. This is expressed at times by “psychosocial behavior and problems”. This whole area which accounts for 80 % of health costs is poorly recognized early on. The 5 Questions tool with cell phone and other applications can help change this more quickly.

Short list of selected references:

Diagnostic Error in Medicine Gordon D Schiff,MD; Omar Hasan MD et al. Arch Intern Med 2009; 169(20): 1881-1887
Diagnosing Diagnosis Error: Lessons from a Multi-institutional Collaborative Project Gordon D. Schiff, Seijeoung Kim, et al. Advances in Patient Safety Vol 2 Concepts and Methodology NLM
CosmoHealth ProActive Proactive Healthcare Outreach for a Healthier Bottom Line CosmoCom Home Page
CDC (Center For Disease Control) Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Contact : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Health Promotion Atlanta, Ga 30341-3717

More than 75% of health care cost s are due to chronic conditions. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and obesity.