Dr Rodney Hornbake Posts Quality and Cost of Healthcare Data from United HealthCare on the Internet

ESSEX, Conn.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Dr Rodney Hornbake today took the bold step of posting third party data related to the quality and cost of healthcare from his practice on the internet for all to see.

“a team-based model of care led by a personal physician who provides continuous and coordinated care throughout a patient's lifetime to maximize health outcomes.”

The source of the data is United HealthCare, one of the country’s largest health plans. The data (scrubbed clean of information that could be used to identify any individual patient) can be downloaded at the practice’s website.

The data demonstrate a near perfect score when care delivered was compared to well accepted, evidence based practice guidelines. Hornbake explained that “the score would been a perfect 100% if one patient had heeded my repeated advice to undergo cervical cancer screening. I plan to use the data to finally convince her to do the right thing.”

The cost of care is reported as well. The report is based upon 125 episodes of care in 2006 and 2007. United looked at the cost of office visits, prescriptions, x-rays, lab tests and referrals to other physicians for each episode. Hornbake’s overall costs are 69% of the average cost for other physicians seeing the same type of patients. (Data are adjusted for illness severity to assure comparability.)

Hornbake noted, “This means I have been able to save patients, employers and other plan sponsors 31%. If everyone achieved the same results total health care costs would fall and premiums dip.”

“While we are all interested in lower costs, the really gratifying part is being able to drive quality to very high levels while reducing costs very substantially. Adding real value to the system and bringing high quality care to patients makes my job very satisfying.”

The results illustrate the value of the Patient Centered Medical Home model of care. This model is supported by the American College of Physicians, other professional organizations, employer groups, and many others. It is a cornerstone of various proposals that will be introduced into Congress as health system reform is debated this year.

The Patient Centered Medical Home model is described by the American College of Physicians as “a team-based model of care led by a personal physician who provides continuous and coordinated care throughout a patient's lifetime to maximize health outcomes.”

Dr Hornbake was an early adopter of the model. His practice assures that patients who call with an urgent problem are seen the same day. Investment in Information Technology is key to success. Electronic Health Record, Electronic Prescribing and a Patient Registry system to track care longitudinally are all in place. “The whole practice is designed and built to provide patient centered care that is accessible, affordable and produce high quality results,” Hornbake noted.

To view the data click here or visit www.DrHornbake.com.

To learn more about the Patient Centered Medical Home model visit the American College of Physicians.

Rodney Hornbake MD, FACP is an internist in Essex, Connecticut. Biographical information is available at www.DrHornbake.com.

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