Designing a disease management program: how to get started.

To successfully design and implement disease management programs, clinicians must understand the disease's natural course and cost drivers, base the diagnosis and treatment on the disease process and not the reimbursement schedules, educate and reinforce compliance to improve treatment outcomes, and focus on commonly occurring and costly chronic diseases. This article describes a 7-step process for developing a disease management program based on those concepts. The changing role and functions of the P & T Committee in disease management programs are also presented.