916-P: Evaluation of an Enhanced Primary Care Team Model to Improve Diabetes Care

Abstract

Purpose: Primary care practices manage most patients with diabetes, and face significant operational, regulatory, and reimbursement pressures to improve care quality. The Enhanced Primary Care Diabetes (EPCD) model was developed to leverage the expertise of care team registered nurses and pharmacists to improve diabetes care. Methods: Utilizing a retrospective, interrupted time series design, we evaluated the EPCD model’s impact on a composite publicly reported quality measure of diabetes care (D5) , including indicators of glycemic control, blood pressure control, low-density lipoprotein, tobacco use, and aspirin use. We compared three groups of practices (32 total) that care for adults (age 18-75 years) with diabetes: staff clinician (physician and Advanced Practice Provider) practices with access to EPCD (5761 patients) , resident physician practices with access to EPCD (1887 patients) , and staff clinician practices without access EPCD (10,079 patients) . The primary outcome was a comparison of the pre-implementation trend (7 months) to the post-implementation trend (months) in the three groups for the percentage meeting the D5. Results: There was a positive difference in pre to post-implementation trends for patients meeting the D5 in the staff clinician practices in the EPCD group (Pre IRR 0.995, Post IRR 1.005; P= 0.01) . There was no difference in the trend for the trainee physician practices with access to EPCD (Pre IRR 0.999, Post IRR 1.011; P= 0.14) , and a significant negative trend in the staff clinician practices without access to EPCD (Pre IRR 1.001, Post IRR 0.994; P= 0.05) . Conclusion: The EPCD model significantly improved diabetes care quality. Further study of proactive, multidisciplinary chronic disease management led by care team nurses integrating clinical pharmacists is warranted. Disclosure J.Herges: None. J.Matulis: None. M.Kessler: None. L.L.Ruehmann: None. K.Mara: None. R.G.Mccoy: Consultant; Emmi. Funding National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (K23DK114497)