Advertisement

Baseline quality of care data from a quality improvement program implemented by a network of diabetes outpatient clinics

  1. Maria C. E. Rossi, MSC (PHARM CHEM) (mrossi{at}negrisud.it)1,
  2. Antonio Nicolucci, MD1,
  3. Adolfo Arcangeli, MD2,
  4. Antonino Cimino, MD3,
  5. Gualtiero De Bigontina, MD4,
  6. Carlo Giorda, MD5,
  7. Illidio Meloncelli, MD6,
  8. Fabio Pellegrini, MSC (STAT)1,
  9. Umberto Valentini, MD3 and
  10. Giacomo Vespasiani, MD6 on behalf of the AMD Annals Study Group
  1. 1Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Epidemiology, Consorzio Mario Negri Sud, S. Maria Imbaro (CH), Italy
  2. 2A.S. Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, AUSL 4, Prato, Italy
  3. 3Diabetes Unit, A.O. Spedali Civili Brescia, Italy
  4. 4Diabetes Unit, Cadore Hospital, Dolomiti-Belluno, Italy
  5. 5Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, ASL 8, Chieri (TO), Italy
  6. 6Diabetes Unit, «Madonna del Soccorso” Hospital, San Benedetto del Tronto (AP), Italy

    Abstract

    Objective: To describe patterns of diabetes care and implement benchmarking activities at the national level.

    Research Design and Methods: Eighty-six clinics participated, all using electronic medical records. Quality indicators were identified and a software was developed, enabling the extraction of the information needed for quality of care profiling.

    Results: Overall, 114,249 patients with T2DM were seen during 2004. HbA1c was measured at least once in 88.0= of the patients, lipid profile in 64.6=, blood pressure in 77.2=, and microalbuminuria in 48.1=. Overall, 43.1= of individuals had HbA1c ≤7.0=, 36.6= had blood pressure ≤130/85 mmHg, and 29.8= had LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dl. Only 5.5= of the patients had achieved all the favorable outcomes. Wide between-center variation was documented for all indicators.

    Conclusions: This is the first step of a nationwide quality improvement effort, and documents the possibility to obtain standardized information to be used for diabetes care profiling and benchmarking activities.

    Footnotes

      • Received March 6, 2008.
      • Accepted August 1, 2008.

    This Article

    1. Published online before print August 11, 2008, doi: 10.2337/dc08-0469 Diabetes Care August 11, 2008
    1. » Abstract
    2. Full Text (PDF)
    3. Online-Only Appendix
    4. All Versions of this Article:
      1. dc08-0469v1
      2. 31/11/2166 most recent

    Current Issue

    1. February 2012, 35 (2)
    1. Current Issue
    1. Alert me to new issues of Diabetes Care
    Advertisement