Patient Based Strategy to Reduce Errors in Diabetes Care

• The following dependant variables were measured in this study;
  
• Diabetes medical error in the 12 months post-intervention, Glycated hemoglobin (A1c) values and A1c test rates in the 12 months post-intervention, and
  
• LDL-cholesterol levels and test rates in the 12 months post-intervention.
  

• Age
  
• Gender
  
• Charlson comorbidity score
  

The project, Patient-Based Strategy to Reduce Errors in Diabetes Care (referred to as MOVES), addresses issues of overuse, under use, or misuse of care for adults with diabetes. This combination research and translation project has been developed as a component of the Pursuing Perfection initiative of HealthPartners Medical Group, with the close collaboration of HPMG leadership. HealthPartners Medical Group is widely regarded as a national leader in diabetes care, with dramatic improvements in both glucose control and cholesterol control over the past 8 years [Graphs].

The MOVES study is attempting to activate patients with diabetes to be more involved in their care. To help patients do this, HPMG sends patients a customized summary of their care. The summary includes a graph of recent glucose and cholesterol test results and specific suggestions that may improve care. In many cases, a visit with the patient's personal physician is encouraged to assure ongoing progress towards important evidence-based goals in diabetes care.

Physicians also receive a matched communication that indicates areas for potential improvement and makes technical suggestions for care based on the Staged Diabetes Management © protocols. The project tries to ally expert judgment with the physician's personal knowledge of a patient. It is felt that this approach is critical to assessing what the best improvement strategy may be in each individual case.

This inexpensive customized intervention has potential to be widely disseminated and can be seamlessly integrated with other interventions to further achievement of clinical goals. The results are relevant to patients, clinicians, payers, and policymakers.