244434 Impact of comprehensive medication management on diabetes patients in a national patient safety collaborative

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Eric Lai, PhD, MPH , US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD
Lawrence Momodu, PharmD , US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD
Girma Alemu, MD, MPH , US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Rockville, MD
Background: The Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative (PSPC), administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is a national initiative aiming to improve health outcomes among high-risk patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions. To serve these patients, community-based teams – consisting of health centers and partners such as hospitals and primary care associations – introduce integrated, patient-centered care and comprehensive medication management. Methods: The PSPC uses a fast-paced, iterative improvement process adapted from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Breakthrough Collaborative Series method. Teams enroll high-risk patients with HbA1c>9% into their populations of focus; implement leading practices and transdisciplinary care teams to manage those patients; and provide improvement data monthly via HRSA's online results sharing portal. Results: In the collaborative's second year, teams provided comprehensive medication management and other services to 1071 diabetic patients. Over twelve months, the percentage of patients with HbA1c>9% decreased by a mean of 17.14%, while the percentage of patients with HbA1c<7% increased by a mean of 4.17%. Among all diabetic patients, the rate of avoidable medication errors decreased by 33%. Conclusion: The outcomes from PSPC indicate that comprehensive medication management in a multidisciplinary setting is an effective approach to managing diabetes, reducing HbA1c levels, and preventing further complications. Now in its third year, PSPC is expanding to deliver needed services to an increasing number of diabetic patients, as well as hardwiring a new model of safer, better care into the nation's health care delivery system.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
1) Explain the implementation of comprehensive medication management and integrated care for diabetes patients in the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative (PSPC). 2) Discuss the reductions in HbA1c levels produced by PSPC teams.

Keywords: Diabetes, Quality Improvement

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because, in my role with the US Department of Health and Human Services, I serve on the leadership team for the Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative, a national initiative that includes diabetes among its areas of focus. I also received a PhD from the University of California, San Francisco for research on dietary practices.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Diabetes Prevention & Control
See more of: Public Health Education and Health Promotion