Health Dialog Signs Agreement with Harvard Medical School to Review Award-Winning Shared Decision Making Aids
BOSTON, Mass. (PRWEB) February 09, 2015 -- Health Dialog, a leading provider of population health management solutions, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with the Harvard Health Publications Division of Harvard Medical School to validate the medical information provided in Health Dialog’s shared decision making aids. The shared decision making aids provide evidence-based, unbiased information on treatment options and condition management to support more informed dialog between individuals and their physicians. Data show patients who are informed and participate in their treatment decisions are more satisfied with their care.
Health Dialog's award-winning aids provide patients with easy to understand summaries of medical evidence related to their condition and decisions, and feature real patient experiences that model effective decision making. Information on a broad range of health matters including surgical decisions, screening and testing decisions, and management of chronic conditions is accessible via web, DVDs and booklets. Beginning in January 2015, physicians from Harvard Medical School began providing evidence-based clinical content review of the decision aid library. Harvard Medical School physicians will validate all of the health information included in the tools to ensure they reflect the latest clinical evidence and will work with Health Dialog to revise content as needed. All decision aids will carry the Harvard Medical School logo as evidence of the institution faculty’s review. The online versions of these tools will also name the specific Harvard Medical School reviewer for each program.
“Health Dialog has created an impressive suite of comprehensive health information to help patients make informed decisions,” said Gregory D. Curfman, M.D., Editor in Chief of Harvard Health Publications. “These shared decision making aids provide in-depth, balanced, evidence-based information. We’re excited to review and update these valuable health management tools.”
Individuals who participate in Health Dialog’s shared decision making programs tend to choose less invasive care and report being more satisfied with both their care and their health plan, which translates to better health outcomes and reduced costs for both the patient and health plan. Health Dialog’s shared decision making aids have collectively earned the company more than 100 industry awards for content, ease-of-use and design.
“Our relationship with Harvard Medical School underscores the value of our decision aids and provides further evidence of their quality,” said Peter Goldbach, M.D., Chief Medical Officer. “The reviews by faculty from Harvard Medical School ensure that our decision aids will remain clinically accurate, current and best in class, delivering the information patients need to make decisions that are best for their situation and effectively manage their health conditions.”
About Health Dialog:
Health Dialog Services Corporation is a leading provider of population health management solutions. The company works with the nation’s largest third-party payers, employers and providers – as well as Health Dialog’s parent company, Rite Aid – to improve the health and wellness of their members, employees, patients and customers while reducing costs and improving performance in key quality measures, such as NCQA’s HEDIS and CMS’ Stars ratings. Health Dialog’s unique capabilities include data analytics, a multi-media coaching platform, and a 24/7 nurse line. For more information, visit http://www.healthdialog.com.
About Harvard Medical School:
Harvard Medical School (http://hms.harvard.edu) has more than 12,000 faculty members working in academic departments at the School's Boston campus or in hospital-based clinical departments at 17 Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutes. Those affiliates include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, The Forsyth Institute, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Hebrew SeniorLife, Joslin Diabetes Center, Judge Baker Children's Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and VA Boston Healthcare System.
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Shanti Skiffington, Samvega Public Relations, +1 (617) 921-0808, [email protected]
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