Healtheheart targets HMEs with DSM software

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Healtheheart revamped its disease management (DSM) software with a patient-tracking system this month, and it's now making a strong push for its use by HME providers. Robert Drazen, president of MedicineAvenue, Heatheheart's parent company, said providers could use the RiskIDentifier to screen patients for chronic illnesses such as diabetes. If patients are found to be high-risk, providers could recommend they visit a physician, who, in turn, could recommend a blood glucose monitor as part of treatment. "The RiskIDentifier's an opportunity to build a relationship with a patient even before the recommendation for a product is made," Drazen said. "That's critical - to capture business so early." The Internet-deployed Risk-IDentifier was released last June and identifies patients who are at-risk for heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and asthma. The software entails taking collected patient information, including medical history, and entering it online. The result: a single page risk identification report based on published national guidelines, as well as chart analyses and treatment recommendations. Furthermore, the new Patient Clinical Management System (PCMS) allows users to document patient visits to various disease-specific practices and clinics. Drazen said so far, the RiskIDentifier is being used by about 40 hospitals, managed care organizations, large physician groups and third-party administrators. Access to the software is secured through a monthly subscription fee that varies depending on the user. The cost per test is about $12, and HME providers could easily charge patients $20 for the service, he said. "From that standpoint, the software alone can be a revenue generator," Drazen said. Sandra Kreul, a nurse practitioner at the Tampa Heart Center in Tampa, Fla., said the RiskIDentifier is a quick and easy way to gather data and identify risk. Based on the results, she said physicians are better equipped to determine whether further investigation is warranted. "Physicians typically have 10 minutes to see a patient," she said. "It's a big plus if they can have this information already in front of them." HME