DMAA Honors Companies, Individuals for Outstanding Achievement

WASHINGTON, D.C.—At its 8th Annual Disease Management Leadership Forum this week, the Disease Management Association of America (DMAA) honored individuals and companies for outstanding achievements in and contributions to chronic disease care.

DMAA President and Chief Executive Officer Tracey Moorhead applauded winners of the association’s 2006 Disease Management Leadership Awards. "These awards recognize the best and brightest in disease management and care coordination," she said. "The contributions of these companies and individuals raise the bar for all stakeholders in chronic disease care."

The 2006 Leadership Awards winners and winning categories were:

• Donald E. Fetterolf, MD, MBA, FACP, Outstanding Individual. Dr. Fetterolf won the award for his work on the DMAA Board of Directors, Quality and Research Committee and Outcomes Steering Committee. He is Corporate Vice President for Health Intelligence at Matria Healthcare Inc.
• IBM, Outstanding Employer Program, for its comprehensive, consumer-centered, integrated health management and productivity framework.
• APS Healthcare Inc., Outstanding Provider Engagement Initiative, for "Georgia Enhanced Care," a comprehensive disease management program in partnership with physicians of the Morehouse School of Medicine’s National Center for Primary Care.
• Sentara Healthcare, Outstanding Government Program, for a community-based, adult Sickle Cell Disease Management program.
• Ariel Linden, MD, DrPH, MS, Outstanding Journal Article, for his article, "What Will it Take for Disease Management to Demonstrate a Return on Investment? New Perspectives on an Old Theme."
• Ian Duncan, FSA, MAAA, FCIA, Robert Bachler, FSA, FCAS, MAAA, and Iver A. Juster, MD, Outstanding Journal Article, for their article, "A Comparative Analysis of Chronic and Nonchronic Insured Commercial Member Cost Trends."
• Jaan Sidorov, MD, FACP, CMCE, Outstanding Journal Article, for his article, "Reduced Health Care Costs Associated with Disease Management for Chronic Heart Failure: A Study Using Three Methods to Examine the Financial Impact of a Heart Failure Disease Management Program Among Medicare Advantage Enrollees." Dr. Sidorov is Medical Director, Care Coordination, Geisinger Health Plan.
• Independence Blue Cross, Outstanding Health Plan, for its Connections^SM Health Management Programs.
• Healthways Inc., Outstanding in Emerging Health Needs, for its work with the National Minority Health Month Foundation to analyze the impact of care support programs in mitigating health disparities.
• Sui Southern Gas Company, of Pakistan, Outstanding in Emerging Health Needs, for its health risk identification initiatives. Message from SSGC Managing Director Munawar Baseer Ahmad

DMAA chose as its best poster exhibit an entry on diabetes management for medically underserved rural residents. Lead author Leonard Fensterheim, MPH, Manager, Analytics, Accordant Health Services Inc., accepted the award.

Also, the DMAA President’s Award went to Sandra M. Foote, ScM, former Senior Advisor, Chronic Care Improvement, at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. DMAA recognized Foote for her long commitment to improving health care, including as Director of the Health Insurance Reform Project, at George Washington University.

DMAA earlier this year solicited Leadership Awards nominations in a rigorous process that evaluated nominations against seven core criteria focusing on commitment, program design, implementation, innovation, outcomes-based orientation, scope and potential impact, and vision/leadership. Each award winner also met category-specific criteria. The DMAA Awards Subcommittee, composed of individuals not affiliated with DMAA through membership, reviewed all awards nominations and made final selections.

Since its creation in 1999, DMAA’s Leadership Awards Program has honored organizations and individuals in disease management annually. Although the awards have evolved over the years, their core purpose remains the same: to recognize outstanding achievements in and contributions to the science and practice of chronic disease care.

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About DMAA
The Disease Management Association of America (DMAA) a non-profit membership association, represents all stakeholders in disease management and care coordination. DMAA promotes the role of disease management in raising the quality of care, improving health outcomes and reducing health care costs for individuals with chronic conditions. DMAA has more than 200 corporate and individual members representing all aspects of disease management and care coordination—from large health plans, disease management organizations and employers, to individual physicians, researchers and nurses. Learn more by visiting DMAA online at www.dmaa.org.