Aetna 2004 Annual Report Download - page 10

Improving the Quality and
Effectiveness of Health Care
COMPASSIONATE CARE AT LIFE’S END
The health care system often falls short when it is time to face the toughest of issues – appropriate
end-of-life care. The new Aetna Compassionate CareSM program takes an industry-leading approach
to the issue with expanded benefits; enhanced nurse case management; and new, member-focused
tools and information. Our broader coverage of hospice, palliative care, respite care and bereavement
care can help members cope more effectively with these complex and emotional issues without
having to discontinue the medical treatment they and their physicians believe is necessary.
COUNTING ON AETNA’S DATA
Through Aetna’s MedQuery®program, our vast data resources are mined to help find errors,
gaps, omissions or potentially harmful drug-to-drug or drug-to-disease interactions. Outreach
is then made to the treating physician, who is empowered with information to improve care and
avoid adverse events.
Wayne Rawlins –
Aetna Compassionate Care
Tina Brown-Stevenson –
MedQuery
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PLAN FOR YOUR HEALTH
In September, Aetna launched a public education campaign called
Plan for Your Health in partnership with the Financial Planning
Association. The campaign helps women – who are typically
the primary health care decision makers in their families –
understand how to better choose and use their health benefits.
The planforyourhealth.com Web site features:
■Information on choosing the best health benefits options,
including a Health Expense Calculator that helps consumers
estimate their annual health care costs.
■Information on how to access the best possible care and maximize
the benefits available to consumers under their health plans.
HELP ON THE LINE
Members can talk to a registered nurse 24/7 about a variety of
health topics through Informed Health®Line – 75,000 calls were
logged in 2004.
REAWAKE
Aetna’s new Reawakening CenterSM, www.reawake.com, helps
individuals determine if they need professional help for depression.
“Aetna employees are passionate about putting information
technology to work for our members. That’s why we are
leaders in providing helpful, robust, easy-to-understand
information to help consumers become fully engaged in
their own health care decisions.”
– Robin Downey, head of Product Development
54%
of women find
choosing a health
plan challenging.
– Aetna and Financial
Planning Association
survey
Jill Griffiths –
Plan for Your Health