Disease management

Abstract

C hronic pain affects an estimated 80 million Americans and costs the US society up to $US100 billion each year in healthcare resources and lost work days. Yet there are few disease management programmes available for patients with this common and costly condition. As such, chronic pain represents a valuable new opportunity for the disease management industry. Delegates at the 4th Annual Disease Management Congress [Boston, Massachusetts, US; October 1999] heard how two fledgling disease management programmes for chronic pain appear to provide relief for patients, ease the frustration of physicians and provide savings for health plans.