Cave Consulting Group (“CCGroup”) Develops Acceptable Clinical Protocol Range for Upper GI Endoscopy Use in Treating Gastroesophageal (GERD)
February 22, 2013
San Mateo, CA. – CCGroup is pleased to announce that the company has developed an acceptable clinical protocol range for utilizing upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopies in treating routine, noncomplicated GERD (or heartburn) patient episodes-of-care. CCGroup BullsEye™ statistical analysis and methodologies (protected by U.S. Patent No. 8,301,464) strongly correlates upper GI endoscopies as the key procedure to gastroenterologists’ efficiency score in treating noncomplicated GERD. Therefore, upper GI endoscopy is the MedMarker™ (or correlated service) in treating non-complicated GERD.
“CCGroup is the only company in the market that has developed MedMarkers™ for all prevalent medical conditions treated by each physician specialty type,” stated Douglas G. Cave, Ph.D., President of CCGroup. “MedMarkers™ are process of care quality measures, well-defined in clinical guidelines. However, they also are the key services and procedures most associated with cost-of-care in treating a medical condition such as GERD.”
John Rootenberg, M.D., SVP of Clinical Strategy for CCGroup, asserted, “CCGroup is developing acceptable clinical protocol ranges for each identified MedMarker™. This process involves the evaluation of four main components: employ the CCGroup National Comparative MedMarker™ Database results; utilize our client’s own specific MedMarker™ results; employ the CCGroup Expert Specialist Panel MedMarker™ Survey results; and utilize our client’s own network specialist MedMarker™ survey results.”
Dr. Rootenberg declared, “CCGroup has developed excellent survey techniques of specialists to elicit appropriate MedMarker™ utilization rates that do not represent under-utilization of services. The survey results are an important component to prepare our clients’ acceptable Clinical MedMarker™ Protocol Ranges.”
The acceptable Clinical MedMarker™ Protocol Range for gastroenterologists is 16 to 32 upper GI endoscopies per 100 patient episodes of non-complicated GERD. “The CCGroup National Comparative MedMarker™ Database shows a range of upper GI endoscopies per 100 patient episodes between 22 (for the 25th percentile gastroenterologists) and 57 (for the 75th percentile gastroenterologists),” stated Dr. Cave. He continued, “The CCGroup Expert Specialist Panel MedMarker™ Survey shows a range of upper GI endoscopies per 100 patient episodes between 11 (for the 25th percentile gastroenterologists) and 37 (for the 75th percentile gastroenterologists).
CCGroup determined the acceptable Clinical MedMarker™ Protocol Range for gastroenterologists using all four main components across multiple clients.” Dr. Cave defined, “We are the first company to identify MedMarkers™ correlated to each specialty type’s medical condition treatment efficiency. And, we are the only company that is investing the resources and technology to develop an acceptable Clinical MedMarker™ Protocol Range for each MedMarker™ by specialty type and medical condition.”
CCGroup will continue to work with company healthcare clients to develop their acceptable Clinical MedMarker™ Protocol Ranges. These ranges are needed to identify and improve unwarranted variations in physician practice patterns and reduce rising costs while improving quality of care. The ranges are needed to support healthcare clients’ value-based contracting, accountable care work efforts, and patient centered medical home activities.
About Cave Consulting Group, Inc.
Cave Consulting Group, Inc. is a software and consulting firm located in San Mateo, California. The company is focused on improving the efficiency (cost-of-care) and effectiveness (quality-ofcare) of the healthcare delivery system. Senior management of CCGroup has assessed the performance of physicians and hospitals for over 24 years for health plans, HMOs, physician groups, health systems, TPAs, and employers.
Contact : Mr. Yuri Alexandrian, CCGroup 650-286-4106 yalexandrian@cavegroup.com
Contact: Mr. David Harlan, Armstrong Teasdale 314-621-5070 dharlan@armstrongteasdale.com