Despite going through some tough times lately, Richmond, Va.-based Health Diagnostic Laboratory (HDL) had some good news this month: An independent analysis showed positive results from its model of health care management. A group of nearly 7,400 patients receiving comprehensive laboratory testing paired with personalized lifestyle consulting from HDL saw a 41 percent decrease in the incidence of heart attacks and significantly lower occurrence of diabetes complication, according to a third-party analysis of insurance claims data. Optum—the health services platform of UnitedHealth Group—and researchers at the University of Richmond rigorously tested the ability of HDL’s model of comprehensive biomarker testing paired with direct patient engagement and physician support to promote positive health and cost outcomes. The study spanned a mean follow-up period of 27 months (with a range of 12 to 42 months). “The results provide strong evidence that Health Diagnostic Laboratory’s model of health management is associated with positive health outcomes. There were very interesting patterns in the data,” said Steve Thompson, associate professor of management at the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond and lead author of the study. “First, improvements in outcomes emerged in a relatively short time frame. Second, although laboratory costs increased,…
