Optimization of Diabetic Macular Edema Management in the Real World: A Model of Excellence in Retina Units: The EMUREX Initiative

Abstract

Purpose: To define and develop a model of excellence for the clinical management of diabetic macular edema (DME) patients in a real-world setting. Methods: A multidisciplinary joint commission (5 ophthalmologists, 1 nurse, and 1 pharmaceutic) established a series of preliminary recommendations based on clinical guidelines and DME activity results from 8 Pilot Hospitals (PH). These were validated by members of each PH and a group of DME patients in discussion workshops. Thus, the validated guideline (VG) took into consideration different aspects, namely, main core points (ranging 0–100), criteria, and indicators. Finally, each PH own setting was compared to the VG in order to settle down a starting point to clinical excellence. Results: Mean PH score was 51.5 (range 30–65). As compared to their maximum, main points that showed best scores were Clinical Guidelines and Protocols (78%) and Portfolio of Services (73%). Topics reaching close to 50% scoring included Resources (55%), Innovation (54%), Care Process (53%), Organization (52%), and Leadership (50%). Lowest scores were observed in the Strategic Alliances (46%) and Staff (37%) points. Conclusions: Analysis of each PH by the VG delivered a global vision of the starting situation, especially focused in the identification of the different improvement areas. In order to further extend this model into the Public Health System, the effect of implementing it in different hospitals should be assessed to analyze its impact on daily clinical practice and health economics.