IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PATIENTS VISIT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR ILLNESSES WHICH COULD BE EFFECTIVELY TREATED THROUGH SELF-CARE MEASURES.

IT HAS BEEN OBSERVED THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PATIENTS VISIT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FOR ILLNESSES WHICH COULD BE EFFECTIVELY TREATED THROUGH SELF-CARE MEASURES. THEREFORE, THE REDUCTION OF THE INAPPROPRIATE UTILIZATION OF MEDICAL CARE RESOURCES FOR RELATIVELY MINOR, SELF-LIMITING PROBLEMS COULD POTENTIALLY BE AN EFFECTIVE STEP IN THE EFFORT TO SLOW THE INCREASE IN HEALTH CARE COSTS. THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO DEVELOP A TELEPHONE-ACCESSIBLE, COMPUTERIZED VOICE SELF-CARE ALGORITHM SYSTEM TO ENHANCE CONSUMERS' DECISION-MAKING SKILLS IN REGARD TO THEIR USE OF SELF-CARE OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER SERVICES. PHASE I INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPUTERIZATION OF SYMPTOM-BASED, SELF-CARE ALGORITHMS THAT ARE INTERACTIVE WITH CONSUMERS THROUGH THE TOUCH-TONE TELEPHONE MECHANISM. PHASE I INVOLVES BRINGING THE SYSTEM INTO OPERATION WITH MINIMAL OPPORTUNITY FOR EVALUATION. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN IN PHASE II. THE COST SAVING IMPLICATIONS OF THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM MAKE ITS COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS POSSIBLE. PROVIDERS OF HEALTH CARE, ESPECIALLY HMOS AND OTHER PROVIDER/FINANCER ORGANIZATIONS (E.G., VETERANS ADMINISTRATION) CAN USE THE SYSTEM TO REDUCE INAPPROPRIATE OR UNNECESSARY VISITS, ALONG WITH REDUCING THE PROBLEM OF DELAY AND DENIAL FOR SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION.