Question

Discuss how the initiative by the YMCA and UHG represents a new paradigm in health care focused on prevention.

Answer 1

Initiative by the YMCA and UHG represents a new paradigm in health care focused on prevention

The goal of medicine are to promote health, to preserve health, to restore health when it is impaired and to minimize suffering and distress.

The collaborative goals of YMCA and Universal Health Group are embodied in the word 'prevention'. Successful prevention depends upon a knowledge of causation, dynamics of transmission, identification of risk factors and risk groups, availability of prophylactic or early detection and treatment measures, an organization for applying these measures to appropriate person or groups, and continuous evaluation of and development of procedures applied. It was first in the history that a health insurance company reimbursed for a community-based organization in terms of delivering a prevention programmes.

UHG and YMCA collaboratively involved in prevention and control of diabetes mellitus. Engaging individuals to take preventive steps can reduce higher treatment costs. Participants who regularly follow the programme will receive financial incentives, positive encouragement and motivation through improved health. The success of the programme provided an insight for other insurance companies to invest in similar preventive programme. Life style modifications have a major role in prevention. If people are provided with reimbursement for their deliberate lifestyle modification efforts encourage more community participation and results in an effective community prevention strategy.

YMCA of the USA, the nation’s leading non-profit service organization and Universal Health Group, UHG one of the largest nation's largest health insurance. UHG+ YMCA represented a new paradigm in health care focus on prevention. UHG, using it's broad assets in technology, health data, evidence based medical decision making and disease management to ensure the dessemination and use of timely information to use in the programme. It focus not only on the flow of health care consumption but on managing the stock of population health risk. The YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program linked with UnitedHealth Group’s Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance. Through this programme YMCAs will receive reimbursement for each participant who is referred through the Alliance. The reimbursement is performance-based and the client will get a higher reimbursement when the desired weight loss is achieved. Through this more community participation encouraged and resulted in effective risk reduction.