As we complete our first year of our highly successful patient care programs: CAGE CHOICE and CAGE PREMIER (formerly Concierge) we are so grateful to our current patients who have embraced this new active approach to their healthcare. There are many new additions to the programs for 2012 which will make achieving your health goals even simpler.
To access the complete information click here. A brief overview of the programs is provided below. We encourage you to review this information and discuss any questions with your cardiologist.
CAGE Care: This is ideal for patients who see a CAGE cardiologist only occasionally and are not interested in establishing an overall healthcare plan with their cardiologist. There is no annual fee. However, additional fees will apply for unreimbursed services such as complex e-mail and phone conversations with your doctor, prior authorization for branded medications, remote warfarin monitoring (Medicare only), out of office procedure pre-certifications and completion of forms.
CAGE Choice: For an annual fee, patients have direct access to a comprehensive program of cardiac healthcare services - ideal for patients who are interested in more personal attention and use services more frequently. In this plan, every patient has a private and direct phone number to their "Personal Nurse" who will become their main contact in the practice and personally assist in coordinating their care. CHOICE patients are guaranteed same day visits with a CAGE physician and complimentary e-mail and telephone correspondance with their physician.
Patients will also become members of our CAGE Lifestyle program which entitles them to a dietitian evaluation, measurement of metabolic rate, a fitness evaluation, participation in our walking group and attendance at our monthly meetings. CHOICE patients also have access to our highly successful Health Partner program in which patients can try a personal trainer, learn yoga, experience Pilates, join a healthclub or purchase exercise equipment through pre-negotiated arrangements with companies that we trust. The savings on these programs more than pay for the annual fee and we are constantly adding new partners.
We are exceptionally proud of the educational opportunities available to patients in the CHOICE program. We held three patient education forums ("CAGE U") last year where we discussed current medical topics with our patients over appetizers and drinks at a local restaurant. While the content of these lectures was useful, the ability to interact with our patients in a social atmosphere was invaluable. Cooking with CAGE is in its fifth year and will of course continue in 2012. In these seminars we gather in a demonstration kitchen to shop and prepare a meal together, all the while discussing ways to eat and cook healthier.
New this year is an 8 week rolling seminar on comprehensive weight management through lifestyle change lead by Lisa Bookstein MS, RD. Lisa has 25 years of success in helping people lose weight the right way- using her experience from the Harvard School of Public Health, the University of Michigan and the Pritikin Institute. Choice patients will get the first opportunity to enroll and save 50% off the tuition. To ensure that this service remains personal, each physician will limit enrollment to only 75-100 patients.
CAGE Premier: For an annual fee patients will have the most access and personalization available. This program allows a very limited number of patients all the benefits of CAGE Choice, plus complimentary access to all educational events (including one 8 week weight management seminar). In addition, PREMIER patients are guaranteed same day inpatient and outpatient visits with their CAGE physician as well as extended and weekend office hours. For PREMIER patients, access to their CAGE cardiologist is 24/7 via cellular phone.
