Health Management (Life360)

AsthmaWatch

Asthma is a chronic disease where airways in the lungs become narrowed or completely blocked. Once the airways are obstructed, more effort is required to force air through them and in turn, breathing becomes difficult. An estimated 15-million people have asthma in the United States – twice the number of people affected just two decades ago.

In order to help you better manage your asthma symptoms, Physicians Health Plan (PHP) has developed a program called AsthmaWatch. The program works to help members with asthma achieve and maintain control through preventive treatment and educational assistance.

AsthmaWatch encourages members with asthma to follow these four core steps to better manage their symptoms:

  • Visit your physician – at least once per year – for asthma care
  • Develop an asthma action plan
  • Attend an asthma education class
  • Schedule a yearly pulmonary function test (for PHP members 6 years old or older)

    • We offer the following services for AsthmaWatch participants to better understand and control their asthma:

    Health Promotion

    Participants receive written materials that answer questions about asthma and how it may impact daily life. You also are provided reminders for asthma care opportunities such as flu shots, yearly office visits for asthma, and long-term controlling medications.

    Health Education

    AsthmaWatch encourages education about asthma management. National guidelines have been developed for asthma treatment and management.

    Asthma Education

    An asthma education program is available locally to support your physician’s action plan and your asthma management. Educational sessions cover topics such as medications, inhalers and how to use them, triggers and how to eliminate or avoid them, and peak flow monitoring and early intervention. Asthma education classes must be ordered by and coordinated with an approved provider.

    Living With Diabetes

    Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not (or cannot) properly make insulin, a hormone necessary to produce blood glucose (blood sugar) and give your body energy. Those battling diabetes face numerous challenges in order to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and keep their bodies balanced. PHP works to help our members confront diabetes head-on, with educational and self-management plans to better manage your disease.

    There are four kinds of diabetes*:

    • Noninsulin-dependent diabetes (otherwise known as Type 2 ) This occurs when the body is not producing enough insulin for it to properly function, or cells in the body are not reacting to insulin. This is the most common form of diabetes. Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this type.
    • Insulin-dependent diabetes (primarily known as Type 1 diabetes). Those who have this form of the disease will usually develop it before their 40th birthday, often in their teenage or early-adult years.
    • Gestational diabetes. This form of the disease occurs in women during pregnancy. Most women with this form of diabetes can control the disease with exercise and diet, but between 10% – 20% of cases will need to take some sort of blood-glucose-controlling medications. Undiagnosed or uncontrolled gestational diabetes may increase the risk of complications during childbirth.
    • Diet-controlled diabetes. This form of diabetes occurs in people who may be predisposed to Type 2 diabetes but who can maintain normal glucose levels through weight management by diet and exercise.

    *Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/

    Management of diabetes is a life-long process, and most individuals with the disease can live a normal, healthy lifestyle when blood sugar is controlled. Preventing complications such as kidney disease, decreased vision or blindness and circulation problems are key. Several important clinical services help to control blood sugar and prevent complications.

    For example, a dilated eye exam may detect eye disease before the individual is diagnosed with diabetes; special foot care may detect certain circulatory problems before a person loses a limb; and maintaining a special diet will help to control blood sugar. A special blood test (HbA1c) can detect how well an individual’s blood sugar has been under control for the past three months, which is a key to controlling diabetes.

    The Living With Diabetes program encourages participants to do the following:

    1. Get a dilated eye exam yearly
    2. Get an HbA1c test at least twice a year
    3. Get a cholesterol test at least yearly 
    4. Get a foot exam with each doctor’s visit
    5. Quit Smoking
    6. Have a microalbuminuria test yearly
    We offer the following services for members to better understand and control their diabetes:

    Health Promotion

    Seminars for PHP members and dependents with diabetes promote education about diabetes, complications and daily care.

    Diabetes Education

    A diabetes education program is available to support your physician’s plan of care and your management of diabetes. Diabetes education classes are taught by certified diabetes educators and are offered to you for no charge. Members with diabetes who attend classes and do not have a glucose monitor can receive one for free, along with one-on-one instruction. Diabetes education classes must be ordered by the physician and coordinated with an approved provider.

    Local Resources – Sparrow

    The Sparrow Regional Diabetes Center provides helpful services for people with diabetes and their families. This program was established in 1969 and certified by the Michigan Department of Community Health in 1995. The full diabetes center was awarded recognition by the American Diabetes Association in 1997. The Sparrow Regional Diabetes Center offers the most comprehensive services for people with diabetes in the mid-Michigan area.

    Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby

    The Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby program provides women with educational information and personalized services during and after their pregnancy.  

    The program encourages pregnant and new mothers to follow these important steps:

    1. Make an appointment to see your physician within the first 12 weeks of your pregnancy
    2. Make sure you have your screening lab work done, especially for hepatitis B
    3. See your physician for your postpartum appointment within 21–56 days after delivery
    4. Prior to leaving the hospital, schedule your baby’s immunization appointment
    5. We offer the following services to guide members throughout their pregnancy, as well as after the baby has arrived:
    Prenatal Vitamins

    PHP is happy to provide our members with a single 90-day supply of prenatal vitamins. These may be obtained at any time during your pregnancy. This benefit is available if you have prescription coverage on your PHP policy. A special authorization must be obtained to receive this benefit. For further information, call 517.364.8466 or toll free 877.803.2551.

    NOTE: If you have a copay, you will need to pay only a one-month copay for the vitamins. Any deductibles must first be met prior to receiving a 90-day supply for one copay.

    Health Promotion Information

    PHP provides participants with educational materials designed to answer specific questions about your health and pregnancy.

    Prenatal Classes

    Prenatal classes are offered locally through Expectant Parent Organization. PHP will reimburse the provider for any of the classes that are listed within our Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby packet, which will be mailed to you after you sign up for the program.

    Prenatal classes are a great way for expectant parents to gain valuable information regarding what to expect during pregnancy and birth of their baby. Our classes provide an outlet for parents to get their questions answered and to learn about available resources for after their baby is born.

    Pediatric Immunizations

    Childhood immunizations are an easy, proven and cost-effective way to help children stay healthy and avoid the potentially harmful effects of childhood diseases such as polio, tetanus and diphtheria.

    PHP is continually evaluating partnerships with local, state and national coalitions to address this clinical priority.

    PHP supports and participates in the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) initiative, providing physicians web-based access to immunization data. We have also established partnerships with community projects aimed at improving community awareness and education on the benefits of pediatric immunizations.            

               

    Ongoing Education

    PHP continues to provide members with immunization and related benefit information in the member handbook, new member orientation materials and member newsletters. Trends and new information may be found in any/all of these PHP resources.

    Tobacco Cessation

    PHP’s Tobacco Cessation program aims to give participants the support they need to kick the tobacco habit. Tools and a personal coach offered through the program – combined with your self-motivation – will enable you to break the habit and learn new, healthier habits to take its place.

    Are You Ready to Quit?

    Answer the following questions to see how prepared you are to quit:

    • Do you have a strong reason to quit smoking/chewing tobacco?
    • Are you confident you can quit?
    • Are you willing to make a plan to quit and stick to it?
    If you answered yes to all of these questions, you are ready to get started! Our program will lead you step-by-step through the process of quitting. But remember, the tools you need to break this habit come from within.

    If you answered no to one or more of the questions, that’s OK. You may want to focus on these areas before trying to quit.

    • If you haven’t identified a strong reason, take some time to think about it. Why is it important for you to quit? How will your life be different without tobacco? Why have you decided to quit now?
    • If you are not confident, think about some possible reasons why. Is it lack of experience? Concern about cravings?
    Think of the obstacles that are in your way. Once you know what they are, you can plan for them. A good plan makes it more likely you will overcome urges to use tobacco. Each small victory increases confidence.

    Benefits of Quitting

    It can be motivating to think about the positive things that will happen when you quit. Take a look at how your health improves over time:
    • Sense of smell and taste begin to improve
    • If quitting cold turkey, nicotine is out of the body in 72 hours
    • The body’s overall energy level goes up
    • Coughing, shortness of breath and sinus congestion all decrease
    • Risk of heart disease is reduced by half after one year
    • Risk of stroke decreases to the level of a non-tobacco user after five years
    • After 10 years, risk of lung cancer is reduced by half
    • After 15 years, the risk of death returns to the level of someone who never smoked
    Program Tools

    PHP believes that it’s important to provide you with the tools you need to work on your habit. Knowledge is power, and we’re here to help you get to where you want to be. Tobacco cessation educational materials, healthcare reminders and a tobacco cessation coach will help you work through challenges and keep you motivated to quit.

    What to Expect

    Our Tobacco Cessation program will:
    • Build your confidence about quitting
    • Offer you support
    • Keep you on track
    • Help you think positively about quitting
    • Pinpoint triggers
    • Help you learn skills and tools to cope
    You will learn to:
    • Deal with triggers
    • Use new strategies
    • Cope with cravings
    • Plan for success
    • Develop a new self-image

    Get started on your journey to better health by calling Healthyroads at 1.877.330.2746 or online at healthyroads.com and click on Register.