The MEDTAPP Diabetes Quality Improvement Project (QIP) is the second quality improvement project that is part of the Ohio Department of Medicaid Chronic Conditions Quality Collaborative. Diabetes is a significant public health issue and is the 7th leading cause of death in Ohio. Poorly controlled diabetes increases risk of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline and physical disabilities such as blindness and amputation. Diabetes has disparate effects on the population by race, geography, and income. Due to the high incidence of this chronic disease, the large-scale health and economic impacts are substantial.
In this first phase of the project, a steering committee comprised of clinical leaders and state partners will identify clinical advisory practices to provide expertise on project feasibility and design. The steering committee together with the clinical advisory practices will begin to develop components of the Diabetes QIP, including a quality improvement change package that incorporates evidence-based research interventions for the diagnosis and management of diabetes, and a key driver diagram defining the drivers of A1C control as:
• Appropriate and Timely Treatment
• Access to High Quality Coordinated Care
• Patient Engagement, Healthy Lifestyle and Self-Efficacy
• Screened and Well Managed Behavioral Health
• Effective Supportive Relationships
• Healthy Environment for Care
In 2020, up to 18 Primary Care practice sites will be selected for the Diabetes QIP. The practice sites will receive coaching from quality improvement experts to engage in quality improvement activities, employ the change package, and transmit Electronic Health Record data at least once per month, but preferred every two weeks over an 18 month implementation period.
Through the collaboration of clinical leaders and state partners, the project team will address the system of care for diabetes to achieve equitable health outcomes for people living with poorly controlled diabetes across the state.
