Managing physician lipid management: a population wide, risk-based decision support approach

Lisa V Rubenstein

doi:10.1186/s13584-015-0032-9

Abstract

Successful implementation of clinical guidelines for preventing complications of dyslipidemias has been an ongoing challenge. The article by Vinker and colleagues in this journal investigates the results of implementing risk-based guidelines for LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) management in comparison to the prior approach of using the same LDL cutoff for patients at all levels of risk. Results show LDL levels dropped across the primary care population using the new risk-based approach, suggesting that clinical decision aids that link to individual patient characteristics, rather than promoting a universal target for all, may provide a particularly strong stimulus for changing provider and patient behavior. Results also challenge healthcare organizations, providers and patients to learn more about the pathway from guidelines to clinical reminders and from reminders to lower LDL levels and better population health.

Highlights

A recent study in this journal provides fascinating glimpses into the future of population-based guideline implementation, in addition to its implications for lipid management, for use of computer reminders, and for understanding healthcare provider behavior [1]
Study data follows the health system’s transition from a prior one size fits all approach to the risk-based approach. Both the prior approach and the new approach were supported by computer-based clinical reminders
Looking forward One question implied by the study is what role the guidelines themselves had in shaping the study results

Summary

Introduction

A recent study in this journal provides fascinating glimpses into the future of population-based guideline implementation, in addition to its implications for lipid management, for use of computer reminders, and for understanding healthcare provider behavior [1]. Background A recent study in this journal provides fascinating glimpses into the future of population-based guideline implementation, in addition to its implications for lipid management, for use of computer reminders, and for understanding healthcare provider behavior [1]. Risk-based guideline goals and implementation results Unlike many studies of provider behavior, this study’s primary outcome is change in the target physiologic

Results

Conclusion