MARSHFIELD, Wis., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- After receiving her second heart pacemaker, Beatrice Berry, a 76-year-old resident of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, was encouraged by her physician to enroll in a program that taught her important lifestyle changes to better manage her congestive heart failure. This is just one example of how many chronically ill patients in need of increased personal support are taking advantage of preventive care programs offered by Marshfield Clinic, one of the largest multi-specialty group practices in the United States, in partnership with Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., the care management subsidiary of Pfizer.
"Now I know how to monitor my weight, and I'm eating foods with less sodium, which are much better for my heart," said Berry. "Receiving extra encouragement from a health expert that knows me well, checks in on me regularly and answers my questions has provided me with a greater sense of security and new hope for the future."
To better provide the personal attention that many patients like Beatrice need outside of the doctor's office, Marshfield Clinic and Pfizer Health Solutions are working together to implement two care management programs: one for Medicare beneficiaries and one for low-income uninsured and underinsured patients suffering from chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure, diabetes and asthma.
"By working with patients between office visits, we hope Marshfield Clinic can shape a new treatment philosophy that teaches patients with common chronic illnesses how to improve their health and keep their condition under control," said Michael Hillman, M.D., M.B.A., medical director of Quality Improvement and Care Management at Marshfield Clinic. "We have already seen the positive impact that partnering with Pfizer Health Solutions has made on the lives of our patients."
Pay-for-Performance Project Aims to Help Medicare Beneficiaries
Marshfield Clinic was selected as one of only 10 U.S. sites to conduct a pay-for-performance Medicare test program that pays health care providers performance payments to cover costs for delivery of new interventions designed to make patients healthier and reduce emergency department visits. Through the program, delivered with Pfizer Health Solutions, physicians work closely with care managers to customize support programs tailored to the specific needs of seniors, including diet, exercise, medication advice, and ongoing goal-setting and encouragement.
Care Management Technology Assists Underserved Patients
In addition, Marshfield Clinic will use Pfizer Health Solutions' care management technology to provide customized care to members in their Community Health Access Program, which provides access to health care for low-income uninsured and underinsured individuals. The goal of the program is to empower patients with chronic diseases to better manage their condition by improving their overall health and reducing time spent in the hospital. The initiative will allow Marshfield to better identify high-risk patients, track patients' progress in the program and provide them with individual care and support around the clock.
"Together we intend to show how individualized care and regular support to patients who need it benefits the entire community," said Pfizer Health Solutions Vice President John Sory. "Pfizer Health Solutions is dedicated to helping Marshfield Clinic make a greater investment in patients by providing the resources they need to manage their own health."
About Marshfield Clinic
The Marshfield Clinic system provides patient care, research and education with 41 locations in northern, central and western Wisconsin, making it one of the largest comprehensive medical systems in the United States. To learn more, visit http://www.marshfieldclinic.org.
About Pfizer Health Solutions
Pfizer Health Solutions, the wholly-owned care management subsidiary of Pfizer, partners with health care and community organizations to implement patient-centered programs that focus on prevention, disease management and care coordination to improve patient health and efficiency of health care delivery. To learn more, visit http://www.pfizerhealthsolutions.com.
Pfizer Health Solutions; Marshfield ClinicCONTACT: Amy Delmore of Pfizer Health Solutions; +1-212-733-0248, orTeresa Derfus of Marshfield Clinic, +1-715-387-9362
