MILWAUKEE – March 17, 2015 – The Business Health Care Group’s (BHCG) consumer health care decision making program in conjunction with global health company, Best Doctors, Inc., produced impressive results for the 14 self-funded BHCG member employers that participated in the program in 2014.
A recent report shows BHCG members’ 2014 overall utilization of the Best Doctors® suite of medical consultation services indicated diagnosis changes were recommended in 30 percent of cases and treatment changes were recommended in 64 percent of cases. Further, the program’s expert medical consultation services exceeded targeted expectations and resulted in 90 percent of survey respondents giving the program the highest rating for its ability to meet their needs while affirming they would recommend Best Doctors services to their co-workers. “We have seen many examples of the program truly making a difference in empowering health care consumers at a time when they need support the most,” added BHCG Executive Director Dianne Kiehl.
Best Doctors collaborates closely with treating physicians to help ensure the delivery of the highest quality of care. Both treating physicians and patients have found working with Best Doctors expert physicians to be a truly collaborative process that can empower patients and promote dialogue between physicians, reports Mike Burke, MD, a board certified pediatric hematology and oncology physician at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Dr. Burke has a unique perspective as both a treating physician and Best Doctors consultant.
“The InterConsultation® service provided by Best Doctors has been a very positive experience for both myself, the consultant and the families I have provided the consultations for patients, as it not only delivers them another perspective from an expert in the field, but can further re-enforce the current recommendations they received from their physicians or provide them with a new perspective that both they and their physicians can consider. The feedback I have personally received from families using the Best Doctors InterConsultation service has been terrific and validates why I continue to provide consultations for these cases,” says Dr. Burke.
“We are very pleased that access to Best Doctors services has been met with such enthusiasm by our employer members and their employees and dependents. We have worked hard to help employees make better health care decisions and Best Doctors is a big step forward in that effort,” added Kiehl.
The BHCG entered into an agreement in 2012 with Best Doctors, Inc., a Boston-based health company serving over 30 million members worldwide, to offer an innovative consumer health care decision making program to BHCG employer members. Best Doctors brings together the best minds in medicine to provide consumers with resources to assure them they are getting the right diagnosis and treatment.
Best Doctors helps employers and health plans address the medical uncertainty of their employees and members with a comprehensive process that includes the completion of a detailed intake call, collection of all medical records, and a comprehensive expert review of all clinical information available. The service gives patients confidence to make informed decisions about their care by providing access to renowned medical experts in addition to a range of other tools and resources.
The BHCG results are consistent with the nationwide results achieved by Best Doctors that reveal diagnosis refinements or corrections in 37 percent of cases and treatment recommendation changes in 75 percent of cases. Said David Seligman, chairman and CEO of Best Doctors, Inc., “The BHCG results corroborate our experiences across the country. Employees want support tools when they are making major medical decisions. They need information and help in seeking second opinions, treatment options for specific conditions and overall assistance with health care questions and decisions.
About the Business Health Care Group
The Business Health Care Group is a membership organization of over 1,000 employers and employer groups in the 11-county region of southeast Wisconsin. The BHCG and its members share the common goals of moving the health care market through innovative action and partnering for effective change. Visit www.businesshealthcaregroup.org to learn more.
About Best Doctors
Best Doctors connects physician communities with other clinical experts, ranked in the top five percent of doctors by impartial peer review, to help people get the right diagnosis and right treatment. Together with Rise Health, the organization creates personalized care experiences by combining actionable data insights and medical excellence. Founded in 1989 by Harvard Medical School physicians, the global health solutions company, which has grown to over 30 million members worldwide, uses state-of-the-art technology capabilities to deliver improved health outcomes while reducing costs. Best Doctors seamlessly integrates its trusted health services with Fortune 1000 employers, insurers and other groups in every major region of the world. Gallup has certified Best Doctors as using the highest industry standards survey methodology and processes in polling physicians to discover the doctors they would choose for their own care. For further information, visit Best Doctors at www.bestdoctors.com.