Alternative Delivery Models Research Articles

Securing the future of kidney transplantation by addressing the challenges of transplant nephrology.

Kidney transplant is a life-changing procedure, and transplant nephrologists, as part of a larger transplant team, play an important role in the field by managing the complex medical needs of transplant patients. The subspecialty of transplant nephrology, however, faces structural challenges related to its workforce, reporting structures, compensation, research and innovation, and health care information technology. The position of transplant nephrology at the academic and operational intersection of medicine and surgery may limit its access to critical resources, hinder academic promotion, and contribute to physician burnout. The authors provide an overview of the subspecialty transplant nephrology and propose solutions. Collaborative efforts that fortify the subspecialty of transplant nephrology will ultimately improve the lives of patients suffering from kidney disease.

Workforce Planning for Community-Based Palliative Care Specialist Teams Using Operations Research

ContextMany countries have aging populations. Thus, the need for palliative care will increase. However, the methods to estimate optimal staffing for specialist palliative care teams are rudimentary as yet. ObjectivesTo develop a population-need workforce planning model for community-based palliative care specialist teams and to apply the model to forecast the staff needed to care for all patients with terminal illness, organ failure, and frailty during the next 20 years, with and without the expansion of primary palliative care. MethodsWe used operations research (linear programming) to model the problem. We used the framework of the Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians and the Nova Scotia palliative care strategy to apply the model. ResultsTo meet the palliative care needs for persons dying across Nova Scotia in 2019, the model generated an estimate of 70.8 nurses, 23.6 physicians, and 11.9 social workers, a total of 106.3 staff. Thereby, the model indicated that a 64% increase in specialist palliative care staff was needed immediately, and a further 13.1% increase would be needed during the next 20 years. Trained primary palliative care providers currently meet 3.7% of need, and with their expansion are expected to meet 20.3% by 2038. ConclusionHistorical, current, and projected data can be used with operations research to forecast staffing levels for specialist palliative care teams under various scenarios. The forecast can be updated as new data emerge, applied to other populations, and used to test alternative delivery models.

The Beneficial Effects Of Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans For Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are a vulnerable population with high rates of morbidity, mortality, and acute care use. Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are an alternative financing and delivery model designed to improve care and reduce costs for patients with ESRD, but little is known about their impact. We used detailed clinical, demographic, and claims data to identify fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries who switched to ESRD SNPs offered by a single health plan (SNP enrollees) and similar beneficiaries who remained enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare plans (fee-for-service controls). We then compared three-year mortality and twelve-month utilization rates. Compared with fee-for-service controls, SNP enrollees had lower mortality and lower rates of utilization across the care continuum. These findings suggest that SNPs may be an effective alternative care financing and delivery model for patients with ESRD.

Indicators of home-based hospitalization model and strategies for its implementation: a systematic review of reviews

BackgroundHome-based hospitalization (HBH) offers an alternative delivery model to hospital care. There has been a remarkable increase in pilot initiatives and deployment of this model to optimize services offered to a population with a variety of progressive and chronic diseases. Our objectives were to systematically summarize the indicators of HBH as well as the factors associated with the successful implementation and use of this model.MethodsWe used a two-stage process. First, five databases were consulted, with no date delimitation. We included systematic reviews of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed studies published in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese. We followed guidance from PRISMA and the Cochrane Collaboration. Second, we used the Nursing Care Performance Framework to categorize the indicators, a comprehensive grid of barriers and facilitators to map the factors affecting HBH implementation, and a thematic synthesis of the qualitative and quantitative findings.ResultsFifteen reviews were selected. We identified 26 indicators related to nursing care that are impacted by the use of HBH models and 13 factors related to their implementation. The most frequently documented indicators of HBH were cost of resources, problem and symptom management, comfort and quality of life, cognitive and psychosocial functional capacity, patient and caregiver satisfaction, hospital mortality, readmissions, and length of stay. Our review also highlighted new indicators, namely use of hospital beds, new emergency consultations, and use of healthcare services as indicators of resources of cost, and bowel complications, caregiver satisfaction, and survival time as indicators of change in the patient’s condition. The main facilitators for HBH implementation were related to internal organizational factors (multidisciplinary collaboration and skill mix of professionals) whereas barriers were linked to the characteristics of the HBH, specifically eligibility criteria (complexity and social situation of the patient).ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first review that synthesizes both the types of indicators associated with HBH and the factors that influence its implementation. Considering both the processes and outcomes of HBH will help to identify strategies that could facilitate the implementation and evaluation of this innovative model of care delivery.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42018103380

Association of Alternative Payment and Delivery Models With Outcomes for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders

Health care spending in the United States continues to grow. Mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUDs) are prevalent and associated with worse health outcomes and higher health care spending; alternative payment and delivery models (APMs) have the potential to facilitate higher quality, integrated, and more cost-effective MH/SUD care. To systematically review and summarize the published literature on populations and MH/SUD conditions examined by APM evaluations and the associations of APMs with MH/SUD outcomes. A literature search of MEDLINE, PsychInfo, Scopus, and Business Source was conducted from January 1, 1997, to May 17, 2019, for publications examining APMs for MH/SUD services, assessing at least 1 MH/SUD outcome, and having a comparison group. A total of 27 articles met these criteria, and each was classified according to the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network's APM framework. Strength of evidence was graded using a modified Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine framework. The 27 included articles evaluated 17 APM implementations that spanned 3 Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network categories and 6 subcategories, with no single category predominating the literature. APMs varied with regard to their assessed outcomes, funding sources, target populations, and diagnostic focuses. The APMs were primarily evaluated on their associations with process-of-care measures (15 [88.2%]), followed by utilization (11 [64.7%]), spending (9 [52.9%]), and clinical outcomes (5 [29.4%]). Medicaid and publicly funded SUD programs were most common, with each representing 7 APMs (41.2%). Most APMs focused on adults (11 [64.7%]), while fewer (2 [11.8%]) targeted children or adolescents. More than half of the APMs (9 [52.9%]) targeted populations with SUD, while 4 (23.5%) targeted MH populations, and the rest targeted MH/SUD broadly defined. APMs were most commonly associated with improvements in MH/SUD process-of-care outcomes (12 of 15 [80.0%]), although they were also associated with lower spending (4 of 8 [50.0%]) and utilization (5 of 11 [45.5%]) outcomes, suggesting gains in value from APMs. However, clinical outcomes were rarely measured (5 APMs [29.4%]). A total of 8 APMs (47.1%) assessed for gaming (ie, falsification of outcomes because of APM incentives) and adverse selection, with 1 (12.5%) showing evidence of gaming and 3 (37.5%) showing evidence of adverse selection. Other than those assessing accountable care organizations, few studies included qualitative evaluations. In this study, APMs were associated with improvements in process-of-care outcomes, reductions in MH/SUD utilization, and decreases in spending. However, these findings cannot fully substitute for assessments of clinical outcomes, which have rarely been evaluated in this context. Additionally, this systematic review identified some noteworthy evidence for gaming and adverse selection, although these outcomes have not always been duly measured or analyzed. Future research is needed to better understand the varied qualitative experiences across APMs, their successful components, and their associations with clinical outcomes among diverse populations and settings.

Mental Health Outcomes of an Applied Game for Children with Elevated Anxiety Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Non-inferiority Trial

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health problems in childhood. Engaging, adequate, and appropriate prevention programs are needed. Applied games form a potential alternative delivery model and recent evidence suggests that they could be effective. The present randomized controlled non-inferiority trial investigated the beneficial effects of the applied game MindLight compared to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on mental health outcomes associated with anxiety symptoms: internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and self-efficacy. In addition, we examined who benefitted most from both programs and analyzed baseline levels of anxiety, maternal mental health problems, and self-efficacy as predictors of changes in anxiety symptoms. After being screened for elevated anxiety, 174 selected children (8–12-year-old) were randomized to play MindLight or to receive a prevention program based on CBT. Study variables were assessed before and after the intervention, and at 3- and 6-months follow-up. Intention-to-treat analyses showed a significant reduction in mother-reported internalizing and externalizing problems and an increase in self-efficacy. Importantly, the magnitude of change did not differ between intervention groups. Non-inferiority analyses showed that MindLight was as effective as CBT in affecting internalizing problems and self-efficacy. However, CBT was more effective in decreasing externalizing symptoms than MindLight. Furthermore, baseline anxiety levels, maternal mental health problems, and self-efficacy did not influence the change of anxiety symptoms over time. Applied games, specifically theory-based games such as MindLight, hold potential as effective interventions for not only targeting anxiety symptoms, but also more general mental health outcomes.

Knowledge, confidence and skills of midwives in maternal nutrition education during antenatal care

Background Maternal nutrition during pregnancy affects the health of the mother and baby. Midwives are suitably well placed to offer nutrition education to pregnant women, however they may not be equipped with the necessary skills to deliver nutrition education to pregnant women. The aim of this study was to explore the midwives knowledge, confidence and skills to conduct maternal nutrition education (MNE) in an antenatal care clinic, Kampala, Uganda. Methods The study employed an exploratory qualitative design. Six in depth interviews, 6 direct observations for group education, and 12 observations of one-on-one midwife- pregnant woman interaction were conducted. The transcribed interviews and field observation notes were analyzed using latent content analysis. Results The midwives demonstrated good communication/facilitation skills during the sessions, and highlighted the nutrient rich dietary sources, increased nutrient demand, as well as food safety and hygiene requirements. Overall midwives’ MNE knowledge and skills were limited and had moderate confidence in performing the MNE. Midwives were ignorant about the maternal nutrition guidelines. Relevance of appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, guidelines for healthy habits, avoidance of substance abuse and nutrition precautions in special circumstances were missing in MNE. Information given to the pregnant women, MNE resources, infrastructural, and health systems gaps were identified. Conclusions There is need for alternative innovative MNE delivery models, and strengthening capacity of midwives in MNE.

Primary care utilization and barriers among pediatric cancer and bone marrow transplant survivors.

e22523 Background: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report on childhood cancer survivorship specified the need to create and evaluate standards and alternative models of care delivery, including collaborative practices between oncologists and primary care physicians (PCP).1 We aimed to examine the utilization of primary care physicians by childhood cancer and bone marrow transplant (BMT) survivors, as well as identify barriers to non-oncology follow-up care. Methods: Survivors and caregivers were recruited from a cancer and bone marrow transplant survivorship clinic at a large Midwestern pediatric hospital. Participants completed a demographic survey and an 8-item semi-structured interview in clinic or online. Results: A total of 472 participants (211 survivors, 259 caregivers, 2 left unanswered) completed the survey (Survivors Mage= 26.11, SD= 7.32). Most participants were Caucasian (89%) and female (58%). Only 57 (12.3%) survivors received a BMT. There were no significant differences in PCP utilization between BMT survivors and those who did not receive a BMT, t(448) = -.519, p = .604. In addition, there were no significant group differences in PCP utilization between oncological and hematologic survivors, t(387) = 1.144, p = .253. Most survivors (87%) had a PCP, but 43% sought care for ill visits only. Survivors most commonly chose their PCP through referral from family or friends (45%), with only 4% obtaining a recommendation from their oncology provider. Top reasons for not having a PCP included being unsure who to see (52%), lack of insurance (20%), and not perceiving a need for a PCP (18%). In a logistic regression, greater annual family income ( β= .209, p< .001) and having health insurance ( β= .161, p< .01) were predictive of having a PCP. The frequency of PCP visits was also positively correlated with annual family income ( r= .13, p= .014). Conclusions: While most survivors had a PCP, higher income and insurance coverage were important predictors of having a PCP. There is a clear need for education and formal transition programs to primary care, as survivors and their family identified the need for guidance in choosing a PCP. Stronger partnerships between oncology and primary care providers may improve surveillance and outcomes for these survivors. 1. Blaauwbrock R, Zwart, N., Bouma, M., Meyboom-de Jung, B., Kamps, W., & A. Postma. The willingness of general practitioners to be involved in the follow up of adult survivors of childhood cancer. Journal of Cancer Survivors. 2007;1:292-297.

The Great American Health Care System and the Dire Need for Change

The Great American Health Care System and the Dire Need for Change

How Do We Align Health Services Research and Quality Improvement?

Quality improvement (QI) initiatives and health services research (HSR) are commonly used to target health care quality. These disciplines are increasingly important because of the movement toward value-based health care as alternative payment and care delivery models drive institutions and investigators to focus on reducing unnecessary health care use and improving care coordination. QI efforts frequently target medical error and/or efficiency of care through the Plan-Do-Study-Act methodology. Within the QI framework, strategies for data display (e.g., Pareto charts, run charts, histograms, scatter plots) are leveraged to identify opportunities for intervention and improvement. HSR is a multidisciplinary field of study that seeks to identify the most effective way to organize, deliver, and finance health care to maximize the quality and value of care at both the individual and population levels. HSR uses a diverse set of quantitative and qualitative methodologies, such as case-control studies, cohort studies, randomized control trials, and semistructured interview/focus group evaluations. This manuscript provides examples of methodologic approaches for QI and HSR, discusses potential challenges associated with concurrent quality efforts, and identifies strategies to successfully leverage the strengths of each discipline in care delivery.

Derivation and Application of a Tool to Estimate Benefits From Multiple Therapies That Reduce Recurrent Stroke Risk.

Background and Purpose- Lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, antiplatelet/antithrombotic use, and smoking cessation reduce risk of recurrent stroke. However, gaps in risk factor control among stroke survivors warrant development and evaluation of alternative care delivery models that aim to simultaneously improve multiple risk factors. Randomized trials of care delivery models are rarely of sufficient duration or size to be powered for low-frequency outcomes such as observed recurrent stroke. This creates a need for tools to estimate how changes across multiple stroke risk factors reduce risk of recurrent stroke. Methods- We reviewed existing evidence of the efficacy of interventions addressing blood pressure reduction, cholesterol lowering, antiplatelet/antithrombotic use, and smoking cessation and extracted relative risks for each intervention. From this, we developed a tool to estimate reductions in recurrent stroke risk, using bootstrapping and simulation methods. We also calculated a modified Global Outcome Score representing the proportion of potential benefit (relative risk reduction) achieved if all 4 individual risk factors were optimally controlled. We applied the tool to estimate stroke risk reduction among 275 participants with complete 12-month follow-up data from a recently published randomized trial of a healthcare delivery model that targeted multiple stroke risk factors. Results- The recurrent stroke risk tool was feasible to apply, yielding an estimated reduction in the relative risk of ischemic stroke of 0.36 in both the experimental and usual care trial arms. Global Outcome Score results suggest that participants in both arms likely averted, on average, 45% of recurrent stroke events that could possibly have been prevented through maximal implementation of interventions for all 4 individual risk factors. Conclusions- A stroke risk reduction tool facilitates estimation of the combined impact on vascular risk of improvements in multiple stroke risk factors and provides a summary outcome for studies testing alternative care models to prevent recurrent stroke. Registration- URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00861081.

Implications of Consumerism in Health Care

Today, the banking, retail, and ride-hailing industries offer consumer-focused technology solutions that are better and more useful than the ones offered in health care. This trend has increased attention on health care transparency and alternative care delivery models. Health systems, hospitals, and individual physicians have the opportunity to lead these changes or risk becoming passive observers in this consumer-focused transition.

Evaluations of healthcare delivery models in Australia: a scoping review protocol.

The aim of this review is to identify and describe the evidence base of published primary, comparative healthcare delivery model evaluations that require the employment of additional healthcare practitioners undertaken in Australia. In Australia, formal processes are utilized in assessing the value of new pharmaceuticals and medical services, which inform decisions on whether to list new items on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule and Medicare Benefits Schedule, respectively. There are no formal processes to aid in decision making on the funding of new, evaluated healthcare delivery models. This imbalance undervalues the available evidence on healthcare delivery models, leading to the sub-optimal allocation of resources between new health technologies and new healthcare delivery models within the Australian health system. Eligible studies will evaluate healthcare delivery models that require the employment of additional healthcare practitioners (either to replace existing practitioners of another type or to provide new services). Studies must include a comparator to evaluate a condition of interest being treated using alternative healthcare delivery models, or no treatment, and will involve observation of outcomes over a similar period of time. Studies in any Australian setting will be included. Interventions aimed at primary preventions will be excluded. PubMed, Embase and CINAHL will be searched for articles published from 2008. One reviewer will review titles, and then two reviewers will independently review abstracts to identify eligible studies. One reviewer will extract data on study characteristics and design. The results of the data extraction will be presented in a table with examples of case studies.

Scoping review of Australian evaluations of healthcare delivery models: are we making the most of the evidence?

Objective Healthcare delivery models describe the organisation of healthcare practitioners and other resources to provide health care for a defined patient population. The organisation of health care has a predominant effect on the receipt of timely and appropriate health care. Efforts to improve healthcare delivery should be evidence informed, and large numbers of evaluations of healthcare delivery models have been undertaken. This paper presents a scoping review of Australian evaluations of new healthcare delivery models to inform a discussion of the appropriate use of such evidence to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the Australian health system. Methods A systematic scoping review was undertaken, following an a priori published protocol. PubMed, Embase and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) were searched for primary comparative studies of healthcare delivery models undertaken in Australia and published between 2009 and 2018. Primary prevention studies, such as health promotion activities, were excluded. Results Of 14923 citations, 636 studies were included in the scoping review. Of these, 383 (60%) were randomised control trials. There were 18 clinical specialties in which over 10 evaluations were identified. Most models involved allied health practitioners or nurses. Conclusion Evaluations of healthcare delivery models provide important evidence that can be used to improve the use of the most important and costly assets of health systems, namely the healthcare practitioners who deliver health care. A nationally coordinated system is required to support local health services to assess the local value of alternative healthcare delivery models. What is known about the topic? The organisation and delivery of health care is continuously evolving in response to changes in the demand and supply of health care. New healthcare delivery models are often evaluated in specific locations, but it is not clear how such evidence informs the delivery of care in other locations. What does this paper add? This paper reports the findings of a scoping review of Australian evaluations of healthcare delivery models, highlighting the large and increasing number of such evaluations that have been published in the past 10 years. What are the implications for practitioners? Opportunities to improve health system efficiency are likely being lost due to the underuse of the available Australian evidence on new healthcare delivery models. Local health services need support to interpret such evidence in their local context, which could be provided through the development of a national framework for local evaluation.

Individual Versus Area Level Social Risk Measurement in the General French Population

Abstract Background Ongoing health policy changes include a move towards alternative delivery and payment models. In addition, the emphasis is put on social determinants as part of performance measurement and payment calibration. Most payers and policy makers rely on area-level socio-economic data, which can lead to sub-optimal. However, little is known about the agreement between individual and area-level variables. The objective was to assess the agreement between individual and area-level social risk variables in the general French population. Methods We used data from the CONSTANCES general-purpose cohort, a randomly selected representative sample of French adults aged 18-69 years. Data collected include socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, behaviors, and health data. We assessed the correlation or agreement between individual and area-level variables for 4 dimensions: household annual pretax income, secondary education completion, occupational group (workers), and unemployment. Results 115,263 individuals were included in the study, 53% female and aged 48 years on average. The median annual household income was 42,000 Euros (USD 50,400), 73% had completed secondary education, 7% were unemployed, and 9.3% were workers. The correlation between income measured at the individual and area level was positive but moderate (Rho=0.20; p < 0.01). Individuals having completed secondary education had a higher area-level median completion rate compared to those having a lower education level (48% versus 41%; p < 0.01). Unemployed individuals had a slightly higher area-level median unemployment rate compared to employed ones (11% versus 10%; p < 0.01). Lastly, workers had a higher area-level median probability to be a worker rate compared to other individuals ones (25% versus 18%; p < 0.01). Conclusions In the general French population, area-level socio-economic variables are poor proxies for individual-level social risk. Key messages Area-level socio-economic data is a poor proxy for individual data. Researchers and policy makers should move towards individual data.

Perceptions of uncertainties about carrier results identified by exome sequencing in a randomized controlled trial.

How individuals perceive uncertainties in sequencing results may affect their clinical utility. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of uncertainties in carrier results and how they relate to psychological well-being and health behavior. Post-reproductive adults (N = 462) were randomized to receive carrier results from sequencing through either a web platform or a genetic counselor. On average, participants received two results. Group differences in affective, evaluative, and clinical uncertainties were assessed from baseline to 1 and 6 months; associations with test-specific distress and communication of results were assessed at 6 months. Reductions in affective uncertainty (∆x̅ = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.53, 1.02) and evaluative uncertainty (∆x̅ = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51, 0.87) followed receipt of results regardless of randomization arm at 1 month. Participants in the web platform arm reported greater clinical uncertainty than those in the genetic counselor arm at 1 and 6 months; this was corroborated by the 1,230 questions asked of the genetic counselor and residual questions reported by those randomized to the web platform. Evaluative uncertainty was associated with a lower likelihood of communicating results to health care providers. Clinical uncertainty was associated with a lower likelihood of communicating results to children. Learning one's carrier results may reduce perceptions of uncertainties, though web-based return may lead to less reduction in clinical uncertainty in the short term. These findings warrant reinforcement of clinical implications to minimize residual questions and promote appropriate health behavior (communicating results to at-risk relatives in the case of carrier results), especially when testing alternative delivery models.

Protecting healing relationships in the age of electronic health records: report from an international conference

We present findings of an international conference of diverse participants exploring the influence of electronic health records (EHRs) on the patient–practitioner relationship. Attendees united around a belief in the primacy of this relationship and the importance of undistracted attention. They explored administrative, regulatory, and financial requirements that have guided United States (US) EHR design and challenged patient-care documentation, usability, user satisfaction, interconnectivity, and data sharing. The United States experience was contrasted with those of other nations, many of which have prioritized patient-care documentation rather than billing requirements and experienced high user satisfaction. Conference participants examined educational methods to teach diverse learners effective patient-centered EHR use, including alternative models of care delivery and documentation, and explored novel ways to involve patients as healthcare partners like health-data uploading, chart co-creation, shared practitioner notes, applications, and telehealth. Future best practices must preserve human relationships, while building an effective patient–practitioner (or team)-EHR triad.

Access to Genetic Counselors in the Southern United States.

The expansion of genetic and genomic testing across medical specialties and the changing workforce demographics of certified genetic counselors (CGCs) have led to concerns of a workforce shortage. We assessed the number of genetic counselors working in the Southern United States—a rural and medically underserved region—using various online and professional resources. We identified 683 practicing genetic counselors across the Southern U.S. and 160 specializing in prenatal genetics. CGCs were concentrated in urban areas; counties with a CGC had a significantly higher proportion of minority residents and median household income than counties without a CGC. There is an average of 2.97 prenatal CGCs per 5000 high-risk births in the South. Alternative delivery models are needed to increase access to counseling services in the Southern U.S., particularly for low income households and those of high risk pregnancies. Increased provider education and patient educational materials can help facilitate informed decision-making in prenatal settings as genetic technologies gain a stronger foothold and bring value to medical practice.

1359-P: Improving Transition Readiness in Teens with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D): Feasibility Results of a Pilot RCT

Suboptimal preparation for transition to adult care has been associated with adverse outcomes in youth with T1D. There is need for innovative curricular approaches acceptable to teens in order to optimize transition preparation and engagement. To create a feasible transition education model, we conducted 6 focus groups with teens and young adults with T1D (N=41) and 3 parent groups (N=23). Participants desired facilitated peer group education while maintaining 1:1 individualized T1D care. The Self-Management, Adherence and Readiness for Transition in T1D (SMART T1D) curriculum was derived from focus group themes and refined by a T1D Teen Advisory Committee (N=20) prior to packaging as 3 modules. Session topics included self-advocacy/adherence, T1D science education, and transition planning. Pediatric nurse specialists trained in motivational interviewing delivered SMART T1D in evening sessions over ∼9 months. Feasibility was assessed in a pilot RCT. Teens (N=40, 50% male, 85% white) with T1D were randomized to SMART T1D (N=20) or an attention control group (N=20) receiving 3 educational electronic newsletters, with both groups maintaining routine T1D care. Teens had mean±SD age 15.7±1.2 years, T1D duration 6.4±3.9 years, A1c 9.5±1.2%; 63% pump users. During the 1-year pilot RCT, we conducted 17 groups, with 1-6 teens in attendance/group (mean, median, mode=3/group); 15/20 teens attended 3 sessions, 2 attended 2 sessions, 3 attended 1 session. Review of 3 newsletters was confirmed by 19/20 controls. Only 3 teens withdrew (1 intervention, 2 control). Intervention feedback was very positive; 88% endorsed agree/strongly agree for recommending groups to other teens and 65% endorsed increased interest in transition information. Negative feedback related to scheduling/traveling to group sessions. SMART T1D was feasible and acceptable to most (95%) teens with T1D; future multi-center studies can assess portability, generalizability, and alternative virtual delivery models. Disclosure K. Garvey: None. T. Dean: None. S. Christensen: None. K. Rice: None. V.B. Rich: None. S. Terrio: None. L.M. Laffel: Advisory Panel; Self; Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk A/S, Roche Diabetes Care, Sanofi. Consultant; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Dexcom, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., UpToDate. Funding National Institutes of Health

Turn for The Better

The Johnson Street Bridge has served as a critical link to the city of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, for many years. A single-leaf bascule bridge that is functional and visually appealing replaced the previous structure, which comprised twin Strauss bascule bridges. The project delivery included a blend of design/bid/build aspects with features of alternative project delivery models.