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Applying Quality Improvement into Systems-based Learning to Improve Diabetes Outcomes in Primary Care.

ABSTRACT: In the U.S., where the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, many patients with this disease are treated by primary care physicians in community-based systems, including accountable care organisations (ACOs). To address gaps in the quality of diabetes care, national quality measures have been established, including patient-centered measures adopted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for its Shared Savings Program for ACOs. From a patient-centered perspective, high-quality diabetes care depends on effective communication between clinicians and patients, along with patient education and counseling about medications and lifestyle. We designed and implemented a quality improvement (QI) program for 30 primary care physicians treating patients with type 2 diabetes in three structurally similar but geographically diverse ACOs. Retrospective chart audits were conducted before (n = 300) and after (n = 300) each physician participated in accredited continuing medical education (CME) courses that focused on QI strategies. Randomly selected charts were audited to measurably assess essential interventions for improved outcomes in type 2 diabetes including the physicians' documentation of patient counseling and assessment of side effects, and patients' medication adherence status and changes in hemoglobin A1C (A1C) and body mass index (BMI). Paced educational interventions included a private performance improvement Internet live course conducted for each physician, small-group Internet live courses involving peer discussion, and a set of enduring materials, which were also multi-accredited for all clinicians in the physician's practice. Continual improvement cycles were guided by analysis of the baseline chart audits, quantitative survey data, and qualitative feedback offered by participants. To extend the benefit of the education, the enduring materials were offered to the interprofessional team of clinicians throughout the U.S. who did not participate in the QI program. For brevity, this article presents outcomes of the 30 primary care physicians. Baseline to post-education improvements were observed for percentages of charts with documented assessment of medication side effects (+11%) and counseling about medication risks/benefits (+28%), medication adherence (+13%), and lifestyle modifications (+8%). Improvements were also observed for documented adherence to diabetes medications (+24%) and first-to-last visit changes in A1C (-0.16%) and BMI (-2.1). The findings indicate a positive influence of QI education on primary care physicians' performance of patient-centered quality measures and patient outcomes.

SUBMITTER: Moreo K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4693094 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:ObjectiveTo explore primary care administrators' perceptions of provincially mandated quality improvement plans, and barriers to and facilitators of using quality improvement plans as tools for improving the quality of primary care.DesignQualitative descriptive study using semistructured interviews.SettingOntario.ParticipantsEleven primary care administrators (ie, executive directors, director of clinical services, office administrators) at 7 family health teams and 4 community health centres.MethodsAll interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed deductively to generate a framework based on a conceptual model of structural, organizational, individual, and innovation-related factors that influence the success of improvement initiatives and, inductively, to generate additional themes.Main findingsProvincially mandated quality improvement plans seem to have raised awareness of and provided an overall focus on quality improvement, and have contributed to primary care organizations implementing initiatives to address quality gaps. Four factors that have contributed to the success of quality improvement plans relate to attributes of the quality improvement plans (adaptability and compatibility) and contextual factors (leadership and organizational culture). However, participants expressed that the use of quality improvement plans have not yet led to substantial improvements in the quality of primary care in Ontario, which may be owing to several challenges: poor data quality, lack of staff and physician engagement and buy-in, and lack of resources to support measurement and quality improvement.ConclusionAwareness of and focused attention on the need for high-quality patient care may have increased, but participants expressed that substantial improvements in quality care have yet to be achieved in Ontario. The lack of perceived improvements is likely the result of multifaceted and complex challenges primary care organizations face when trying to improve patient care. To effect positive change, organization- and health system-level efforts are needed to improve measurement capabilities, improve staff and physician engagement, and increase capacity for quality improvement among organizations.

Project description:IntroductionDiabetes represents a major public health and health system burden. As part of the Alberta's Caring for Diabetes (ABCD) Project, two quality-improvement interventions are being piloted in four Primary Care Networks in Alberta. Gaps between health research, policy and practice have been documented and the need to evaluate the impact of public health interventions in real-world settings to inform decision-making and clinical practice is paramount. In this article, we describe the application of the RE-AIM framework to evaluate the interventions beyond effectiveness.Methods and analysisTwo quality-improvement interventions were implemented, based on previously proven effective models of care and are directed at improving the physical and mental health of patients with type-2 diabetes. Our goal is to adapt and apply the RE-AIM framework, using a mixed-methods approach, to understand the impact of the interventions to inform policy and clinical decision-making. We present the proposed measures, data sources and data management and analysis strategies used to evaluate the interventions by RE-AIM dimension.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval for the ABCD Project has been granted from the Health Research Ethics Board (HREB #PRO00012663) at the University of Alberta. The RE-AIM framework will be used to structure our dissemination activities by dimension.ResultsIt will be presented at relevant conferences and prepared for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Various products, such as presentations, briefing reports and webinars, will be developed to inform key stakeholders of the findings. Presentation of findings by RE-AIM dimension will facilitate discussion regarding the public health impact of the two interventions within the primary care context of Alberta and lessons learned to be used in programme planning and care delivery for patients with type-2 diabetes. It will also promote the application of evaluation models to better assess the impact of community-based primary healthcare interventions through our dissemination activities.

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Applying Quality Improvement into Systems-based Learning to Improve Diabetes Outcomes in Primary Care.

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