The chronic care model that has been slowly moving forward over the last few years is a whole life approach to health care. Instead of relying only on a stressed health care provider to give the majority of care, the chronic care model combines doctors, hospitals, insurers, wellness centers, community services and patient self care to achieve an overall approach to health.

There is a great debate on how effective this is. Because it gives the insurer a larger role in approving treatment, some people feel that this model makes patient care worse, not better. On the other side of the argument are the over worked health care providers and staff who see the system as an improvement: with a group approach they share the burden of health with the patient and the insurance carrier.

Regardless of whether you subscribe to it or not, the fact that taking a chronic care model approach to certain diseases like heart disease and diabetes is beneficial has been proven time and time again. These chronic conditions often have secondary conditions that a single doctor approach to health care can’t deal with. By involving the patient in their own care and calling on community services and programs, the patient has a much better chance at improving their health and managing their condition.

The one thing that chronic care models lack is a focus on wellness and preventative care. The fact that the entire health care system would be under less strain if insurers would cover wellness benefits like health clubs and vitamins instead of just treating patients after the disease has already struck seems to escape most insurance providers. Adding preventative care to stop diabetes and heart disease before they even start would take the chronic care model to the next level.

The most important factor in the chronic care model is patient involvement. By teaching the patient about self care and health management, chronic care models compensate for some of the idea’s shortcomings. If a patient is educated about their heart disease or other chronic condition, they are more likely to know when they need to see a health care professional and when they can manage an issue at home or through a call nurse system.

Another aspect of the chronic care model that is a positive is the emergence of online and telephone support systems for patients. This is a cost effective way to analyze a patient’s needs while they are still at home. It allows a nurse or doctor to log on to an account or check a voice mail, get the symptoms or problems the patient is having, and decide if they need to come in or not without wasting time in a doctor’s appointment.

With all of these changes in health care, the struggling system is showing signs of improvement. If the system can add in the few features it is currently lacking on the front end wellness side, America’s health care model could become one to imitate everywhere. Regardless, the chronic care model can help a patient take charge of their health in a whole new way.

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