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Distinction Highlights OptumHealth’s Commitment to Quality Health Care
Orlando, Fla., (April 2, 2009) – OptumHealth Inc. today announced that its Treatment Decision Support program has received the Bronze Award for “Health Management” during the 2009 Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection Awards competition held during this year’s conference in Orlando. URAC's Best Practices Awards extend the organization's educational mission by shining a spotlight on proven best practices within the health care management industry.
OptumHealth’s Treatment Decision Support program helps individuals make better decisions about their health care. It does this by providing them with information on their conditions, treatment alternatives and providers who have demonstrated best practices — all of which are focused on improving their care while reducing related costs.
“When consumers are better informed and take an active role in managing their health and wellness, individuals, organizations and the total population benefit,” said Dr. Gail Croall, chief medical officer for OptumHealth Care Solutions. “Consider the independent data provided by the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care which indicates surgery costs can be reduced by up to 40 percent when consumers are actively engaged in clinical decision making about their care.”
“A Best Practices Award is a strong signal to the marketplace that an organization places a premium on consumer protection, empowerment and health care quality,” added Alan P. Spielman, URAC’s president and CEO. “We are excited about this opportunity to recognize OptumHealth and our other award winners, and draw attention to the programs that model best practices for the industry.”
Award entries detailed innovative and proven programs from health information/decision support, health management, pharmacy quality management and workers' compensation companies, as well as health plans and health networks. More than thirty of the nation's foremost thought leaders in health care management judged the entries based on scoring criteria established by URAC, a leading independent accrediting organization.
About OptumHealth
OptumHealth, Inc. helps individuals navigate the health care system, finance their health care needs and achieve their health and well-being goals. The company’s personalized health advocacy and engagement programs tap a unique combination of capabilities that encompass care solutions, behavioral solutions, specialty benefits and financial services. Serving more than 60 million people, OptumHealth is one of the nation’s largest health and wellness businesses and is a UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company. More information about OptumHealth can be found at www.optumhealth.com.
About URAC
URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and certification programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC strives to ensure that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.
For more information, contact:
Molly McMillen
Sr. Manager, External Communications
(763) 797-4559
molly.mcmillen@optumhealth.com
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