E-Z-EM: GHP Education Initiative

     Contact: Robert M. Bloomfield
              Managing Director GHP
              1-800-233-8583
     
     
             GHP LAUNCHES PATIENT EDUCATION INITIATIVE
                          FOR PEPTIC ULCERS
                                  
      DISEASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR MANAGED CARE 
                   AND OTHER LARGE ORGANIZATIONS


    Stony Brook, NY; February 17, 1998 - Gastrointestinal Health Programs (GHP),
a leading disease management company that focuses on diseases and disorders
of the digestive tract, will make available to managed care organizations and
large corporations as a part of their disease management programs a new booklet
entitled, "Why Does My Stomach Ache?"
    
    Billed as "A personal guide to chronic indigestion and stomach discomfort,"
the information presented in a question and answer format is provided to help
increase awareness of digestive diseases and their diagnosis and treatment.  A
special focus of the booklet is on gastritis and peptic ulcers, two diseases
that are primarily linked to the infectious bacterium known as Helicobacter
pylori (H. pylori).
    
    This booklet is one element of GHP's Peptic Ulcer/H. pylori Disease
Management Program.  This program also includes educational materials for
physicians, a computer- based outcomes model, quality of life surveys for pre-
and post-treatment evaluation and telephone follow-up to ensure patient
compliance. The GHP team of specialists is also available to help any managed
care organization, large corporation, government agency or union in the
planning, design and implementation of disease management programs. GHP
currently offers programs for colon cancer screening and peptic ulcer/H. pylori
detection and management.
    
    Colon cancer, the nation's second leading killer, results in 60,000 deaths
and 150,000 new cases annually, while peptic ulcer disease affects approximately
20 million Americans, 4-5 million of whom have chronic cases of the disease.
Recent developments particularly the new Medicare program to reimburse for colon
cancer screening and the NCQA requirement for disease management programs
coupled with the fact that annual healthcare expenditures related to digestive
diseases and disorders exceed $100 billion annually, have brought these and
other related conditions to the attention of managed care organizations
committed to reducing costs and improving outcomes.
    
    The GHP Peptic Ulcer/H. pylori Disease Management Program has been
implemented by leading managed care organizations throughout the United States.
Most significantly, these organizations have been able to achieve cure rates for
their peptic ulcer patients of up to 90%.  This is in addition to significant
reductions that were achieved in the cost of drugs, procedures, laboratory
services and emergency room visits.
    
    Gastrointestinal Health Programs is located in Stony Brook, New York.
Telephone 1- 800-233-8583, fax 516-444-8855, web site www.ghp.org. ###
    


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