Last updated Jan. 2006
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The
goal of health care quality improvement is to
eliminate the gap between current and optimal
clinical performance. For example, "increase
the proportion of adults with diabetes and high
blood pressure who are taking action -- losing
weight, increasing physical activity, or reducing
sodium intake -- to help control their blood pressure."
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How
to Make Systems Changes
for Improved Care
Establish
Goals for Improvement
The
goal of health care quality improvement is to eliminate the gap
between current and optimal clinical performance. A first overall
goal could be to design a system of care to support providers' efforts
to practice in accordance with evidence-based standards of care
-- to achieve in clinical practice, the effectiveness of interventions
that are known to be efficacious in clinical trials.
Other
goals will be based on reducing gaps identified by the assessment
of the practice or care system. For example, "increase the
proportion of adults with diabetes and high blood pressure who are
taking action -- losing weight, increasing physical activity,
or reducing sodium intake -- to help control their blood pressure."
Healthy
People 2010 lists national goals for the next decade, many of which
relate to diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, nutrition
and physical activity (to link to specific goals see resources).
For example, 3 goals for diabetes are:
5-4. Increase the proportion of adults with diabetes whose condition
has been diagnosed. Target: From 68 to 80 percent.
5-1. Increase the proportion of persons with diabetes who receive
formal diabetes education. Target: From 45 to 60 percent.
5-12. Increase the proportion of adults with diabetes who have
an A1C measurement at least once a year. Target: From 24 to 50
percent.
To
achieve any chosen goal, a practice, provider, or planning group
would need to determine baseline measures and an achievable target,
then select and implement a number of small steps or objectives
that would lead to achievement of the goal over time.
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How: Models for Chronic Care Improvement |
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