Disease Management Programs, The Case of CVD Management in Bulgaria

Abstract

At present almost all health care systems are concerned mainly with ensuring equity, access, high quality and efficiency of health care. A very important aspect of quality, especially in public health, is its relation to scientific knowledge about effective interventions. The concept of Disease management programmes (DMPs) has been introduced to implement evidence-based clinical practice through guidelines, care protocols etc, to improve coordination among healthcare providers and assure continuity and comprehensiveness of care. DMPs organize health care in multidisciplinary, multicomponent, proactive approach focusing on the whole course of a disease, using evidence-based standards of care. There is no single definition of a Disease management programme, because of their diversity and heterogeneity. They are characterized by three main features: a knowledge base, a delivery system with coordinated care components, and a continuous improvement process. The basic advantages and uncertainties about DMPs are discussed in the module, as well as the ways and results of their implementation. A case study is presented, discussing a proposed model for Cardiovascular disease management programme in Bulgaria.