TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical informatics to improve quality of care
T2 - A population-based system for patients with diabetes mellitus
AU - Chaudhry, Rajeev
AU - Tulledge-Scheitel, Sidna M.
AU - Thomas, Matthew R.
AU - Hunt, Vicki L.
AU - Liesinger, Juliette T.
AU - Rahman, Ahmed S.
AU - Naessens, James M.
AU - Davis, Lynn A.
AU - Stroebel, Robert J.
PY - 2009/9
Y1 - 2009/9
N2 - Background The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing in the USA. However, control of intermediate outcome measures remains substandard. Recently, significant emphasis has been placed on the value ofelectronic medical records and informatics systems to improve the delivery of health care. Objective To determine whether a clinical informatics system improves care of patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods In this quality improvement pilot initiative, we identified 48 patients with diabetes mellitus who were due for their annual haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and micro- albumin tests. Through our newly developed clinical informatics initiative, patients were reminded to schedule tests and a physician appointment. Seventy- five patients without reminders served as controls. Results A significant improvement in LDL control was achieved in the intervention group (35.4% vs 13.3%; P=0.004). The intervention group had a greater percentage of patients who underwent the three tests, and members ofthis group also showed greater control of haemoglobin A1c, but these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions A clinical informatics system, used to deliver proactive, co-ordinated care to a population of patients with diabetes mellitus, can improve process and also quality outcome measures. Larger studies are needed to confirm these early findings.
AB - Background The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is increasing in the USA. However, control of intermediate outcome measures remains substandard. Recently, significant emphasis has been placed on the value ofelectronic medical records and informatics systems to improve the delivery of health care. Objective To determine whether a clinical informatics system improves care of patients with diabetes mellitus. Methods In this quality improvement pilot initiative, we identified 48 patients with diabetes mellitus who were due for their annual haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and micro- albumin tests. Through our newly developed clinical informatics initiative, patients were reminded to schedule tests and a physician appointment. Seventy- five patients without reminders served as controls. Results A significant improvement in LDL control was achieved in the intervention group (35.4% vs 13.3%; P=0.004). The intervention group had a greater percentage of patients who underwent the three tests, and members ofthis group also showed greater control of haemoglobin A1c, but these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions A clinical informatics system, used to deliver proactive, co-ordinated care to a population of patients with diabetes mellitus, can improve process and also quality outcome measures. Larger studies are needed to confirm these early findings.
KW - Clinical informatics
KW - Diabetes mellitus
KW - Quality of health care
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=73949102716&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=73949102716&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.14236/jhi.v17i2.721
DO - 10.14236/jhi.v17i2.721
M3 - Article
C2 - 19807951
AN - SCOPUS:73949102716
SN - 2058-4555
VL - 17
SP - 95
EP - 102
JO - BMJ Health and Care Informatics
JF - BMJ Health and Care Informatics
IS - 2
ER -