Perceptions of collaborative care team members on facilitators and barriers to care and glycosylated hemoglobin level as a diabetes quality metric at a federally qualified health center in Texas

Abstract

ObjectivesFacilitators and barriers to collaborative patient care have been explored in previous studies. Few studies provide information about collaborative care team (CCT) members’ roles in treating patients with diabetes and how CCT members should be evaluated for their contributions to diabetes care. To describe the roles and responsibilities of CCT members at CommUnityCare (CUC), a federally qualified health center in Central Texas; identify the facilitators and barriers affecting referrals to other CCT members within CUC; explore the facilitators and barriers to collaborative patient care at CUC; and assess CCT members’ perceptions of quality metrics for diabetes care. MethodsA cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected by a survey and semistructured interviews of CCT members. The survey (32 questions) assessed roles and responsibilities, including the percentage of time spent on clinic activities, referral criteria, perceptions of quality diabetes care, and facilitators and barriers to care. The interview (32 questions) gathered a description of the CCT member’s role, referral process, and ideas for diabetes quality metrics. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used for data analysis. ResultsTwenty-two CCT members (4 diagnosticians, 4 clinical pharmacists, 4 behavioral health professionals, 4 registered dietitians, 2 community health workers, and 4 care managers) participated in this study. Co-location (54%) and professional relationships with coworkers (32%) facilitated referrals to other CCT members. Appointment availability (32%) and lack of referral criteria knowledge (27%) were barriers to other CCT member referrals. Seventy-five percent of the dietitians and care managers thought that the glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) level was a good quality metric for diabetes care, followed by 50% of the clinical pharmacists, 25% of the behavioral health counselors, and 0% of the community health workers and diagnosticians. ConclusionCo-location and professional relationships facilitated referrals to CCT members, whereas lack of CCT member availability and lack of referral criteria knowledge were barriers to CCT referrals. Metrics other than the lowering of the A1C level should be further explored to assess the quality of diabetes care.