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medpundit |
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Thursday, September 23, 2004Today's treatments for depression can leave a lot to be desired, but new pills or modes of therapy are not necessarily the answer. Rather, simple changes in how existing treatments are delivered can yield significant improvements. A new study, published in this week's issue of the British Medical Journal, found that inexpensive enhancements to care by primary care physicians, such as follow-up phone calls to patients, could boost response to treatment by almost 30 percent. Perhaps as significant as that finding, however, is that the five large U.S. medical groups involved in the study, including Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, have decided to make the changes permanent. 'It's not a complex intervention,' said Dr. Alan Axelson, Highmark's medical director for behavioral health, and it costs little more than the standard care already provided by primary care physicians.' And they don't have to pay the phone bill, an added benefit, I'm sure. posted by Sydney on 9/23/2004 01:29:00 PM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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