1. Exploring point-of-care transformation in diabetic care: A quality improvement approach
- Author
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Maria C. Mejia de Grubb, Haijun Wang, Kiara K. Spooner, Roger Zoorob, and Malvika Juneja
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,Quality management ,endocrine system diseases ,business.industry ,Significant difference ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Type 2 diabetes ,Primary care ,medicine.disease ,Diabetic care ,Hba1c level ,Community health center ,Emergency medicine ,medicine ,Family Practice ,business ,Point of care - Abstract
Objective This quality improvement project evaluated the impact of a point-of-care (POC) HbA1c stat lab intervention and a nurse-assisted expanded visit implemented among patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D) at a community health center in Houston, TX. Methods This was a before-and-after POC intervention among adult patients who received primary care services between 1 July 2014 and 31 December 2014 (baseline visit) and who had at least one 3-month follow-up visit. Results Three hundred eighty-seven patients were included in the study. The majority were 9%) at baseline, with the highest average levels among Hispanic (10.9%) and black (10.7%) patients. There was a significant difference in the HbA1c level before (mean=10.65, SD=1.9291) and after (mean=9.25, SD=1.8187) intervention. The absolute reduction in the level of HbA1c was 1.4% (t=12.834, p Conclusion There is a distinct advantage in using a stat HbA1c lab when combined with shared POC visits to assist patients with uncontrolled T2D in lowering the HbA1c, improving self-management, and reducing long-term costs.
- Published
- 2015