NEWS BRIEFS
NEWS BRIEFS
Alternative medicine use on the rise
In the past eight years, the use of alternative medical therapies in America has grown significantly, according to a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The article, whose lead author was David M. Eisenberg, MD, shows that an estimated four in 10 Americans used an alternative therapy in 1997, compared with three in 10 in 1990.
Among the study’s other key findings:
• Alternative therapies were used most frequently for chronic conditions, including back problems, anxiety, depression, and headaches.
• Total 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures relating to alternative therapies were conservatively estimated at $27 billion.
• Data suggest a 47.3% increase in total visits to alternative medicine practitioners.
The researchers interviewed 1,539 adults in 1991 and 2,055 in 1997.
For additional information, contact: The American Medical Association, 515 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60610. Telephone: (800) AMA-2350. Web site: www.ama-assn.org/public/journals/jama/jamahome.htm.
New publication for sleepless Americans
The Sleep Research Institute in Washington, DC, has published a booklet, "Getting the Sleep You Need," which provides information and suggestions on what to do when you can’t sleep.
Research has shown that nearly 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, costing them an estimated $16 billion in health care costs each year, according to the institute. In 1997, the average American got 243 hours less sleep per year than in 1969.
You can obtain a copy of the booklet by sending $5 to cover the cost of postage and handling to: Regional Fulfillment Center, Sleep Booklet SL-950, 2124 Broadway #104, New York, NY 10023. Or, you can access the information from the institute’s Web site: www.institute-dc.org.
Employees reveal what makes them jump ship
While increased workload and decreased job security may account for grumbling around the water cooler, they’re not what causes employees to leave their companies, according to a recent study by the Hay Group, a Philadelphia-based management consulting firm.
The employees, who were contacted at over 300 companies, cite these areas as critical to job satisfaction: The opportunity to learn new skills; coaching and feedback from the boss; the type of work done; ability of top management; recognition for a job well done; respectful treatment; training; and pay.
"In this day of tight labor markets and soaring turnover among critical skill groups, companies can improve retention by taking the pulse of their work force more often and implementing programs that address their employees’ concerns," notes S. William Alper, PhD, of Hay’s Research Management Practice.
For more information, contact: Ellen Nemirow, telephone: (312) 228-1860. E-mail: [email protected].
More privacy ensures better health care
Patients who do not believe that their medical and personal health information will be protected may limit the information they share with health care providers, thus increasing the risk of misdiagnosis or insufficient treatment. That’s the assertion made in a report released by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
A joint effort by the JCAHO and the NCQA will "help establish a framework that protects patient confidentiality, but still allows quality improvement and care management efforts to go forward," asserts NCQA president Margaret O’Kane. The organizations call on health care professionals to: Ensure accountability, obtain consent, educate patients, use technology as a solution, provide legislative support, and monitor research.
To request a copy of the report, call the Joint Commission Customer Service Center at (630) 792-5800, or the NCQA’s Customer Service Center at (202) 955-5697. The report is also available on the Joint Commission’s Web site, www.jcaho.org, and the NCQA’s Web site, www.ncqa.org.
(Editor’s note: Much of the controversy over genetic testing relates to employee privacy issues. See the article on p 33.)
DCC launches self-service benefits Web site
Westport, CT-based DCC (Dependent Care Connection Inc.), a provider of work/life information and resources, has launched an online benefits information Web site. The site can be used as a stand-alone or seamlessly integrated with DCC’s LifeCare Net, an extranet that provides secure internet access to DCC’s LifeCare counseling, education, and referral services. HR Info Net is a one-stop source for individuals seeking information and expertise on the implementation and management of work/life, HR, EAP, and wellness programs.
HR Info Net provides cost-effective expert guidance and access to a wealth of information to help HR professionals make informed decisions on the benefits/programs they are thinking of implementing, says Mark Willaman, DCC’s director of sales and marketing.
HR Info Net offers "communities" that cover a range of benefits programs, each one with an executive summary of the benefit that includes a definition of the program, background information, trends, who it is suited for, and so forth. Each community features six main tabs:
1. Evaluating Your Needs: Surveys and pointers on assessing work force needs.
2. Vendor Selection: Tips and ideas.
3. Implementation: A thorough "how-to" guide.
4. Ongoing Promotion/Management: Manager training, increasing awareness.
5. Measuring Effectiveness: Tools to quantify the value of the benefit.
6. Ask the Experts: On-line access to third-party benefit consultants.
For more information, contact: Mark Willaman, DCC. Telephone: (203) 291-3503. E-mail: [email protected].
Study finds seniors unhappy with choices
In a study of more than 200 Medicare health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and more than 1,200 Medicare supplemental insurance policies in 19 cities nationwide, Consumer Reports magazine found that seniors are facing higher out-of-pocket expenses for health care, cutbacks in HMO benefits such as prescription drugs and vision care, and a burdensome array of Medicare choices.
The study’s key findings include:
• Premiums are up an average 35% since 1994 for Medicare supplemental insurance, which offers seniors the greatest flexibility of doctors and hospitals.
• Premiums for Medicare Part B will more than double over the next eight years to $1,172 in 2006.
• Many seniors who signed up with a Medicare HMO because it paid for prescription drugs are finding their plans now limit or have begun to charge for this benefit.
A worksheet that helps consumers evaluate the prescription drug benefits offered by different HMOs is available on the magazine’s Web site at www.ConsumerReports.org.
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