Reducing Disparities Through Peer Support

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Reducing Disparities Through Peer Support

The featured Innovations describe a mentor program for African-American veterans with diabetes that improved blood glucose control and an interactive education class for kidney transplant candidates that increased the percentage of African-American patients and people of lower socioeconomic status, who completed the transplant evaluation process. 

Innovation in Clinical and Community Relationships Post-Katrina: A Conversation With Eric Baumgartner, MD, MPH

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Innovation in Clinical and Community Relationships Post-Katrina: A Conversation With Eric Baumgartner, MD, MPH

The local health care system in Louisiana was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. A collaboration of local community clinics, the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), and other partners decided to work on rebuilding the primary care capacity and building the foundation for a high performing, sustainable, community-based approach to health care and population health.

Round-the-Clock Intensivists Eliminate Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, Central Line Infections, and Pressure Ulcers in Intensive Care Unit

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Round-the-Clock Intensivists Eliminate Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia, Central Line Infections, and Pressure Ulcers in Intensive Care Unit

Since program implementation, the rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia, central line infections and pressure ulcers have decreased, intensive care unit (ICU) readmissions have declined, ICU length of stay remains low, and testing and pain management education have increased.

Community- and Practice-Based Teams, Real-Time Information, and Financial Incentives Help Medical Homes Improve Care, Reduce Utilization and Costs

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Community- and Practice-Based Teams, Real-Time Information, and Financial Incentives Help Medical Homes Improve Care, Reduce Utilization and Costs

The program also provides real-time electronic information to support the provision of appropriate care and offers significant financial incentives that reward practices for becoming recognized as a National Committee for Quality Assurance Patient-Centered Medical Home™. The program has improved the provision of appropriate care and services and reduced utilization and growth in health care spending. 

Medicaid Managed Care Plan Offers Patient-Specific, Pay-for-Performance Program, Leading to Improvements in Immunization Rates and Diabetes Care

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Medicaid Managed Care Plan Offers Patient-Specific, Pay-for-Performance Program, Leading to Improvements in Immunization Rates and Diabetes Care

Although some program elements have been temporarily suspended for financial reasons, the initiative has improved immunization rates and diabetes care and generated a positive response from providers, without having a negative impact on health disparities.

Alerts and Decision Support for Abnormal Laboratory Values Do Not Improve Clinical Management or Reduce Adverse Events

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Alerts and Decision Support for Abnormal Laboratory Values Do Not Improve Clinical Management or Reduce Adverse Events

The program had no impact on the clinical management of these patients or the frequency of adverse events. Program developers nonetheless believe the approach could be highly effective if the alerts and decision support were better integrated into existing workflow and the system made easier to use. They are working on these refinements and plan to test a revamped program in the future.

Statewide Program Supports Medical Homes Through Multidisciplinary Teams, Easy Access to Information, and Incentives, Leading to Lower Costs and Better Care

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Statewide Program Supports Medical Homes Through Multidisciplinary Teams, Easy Access to Information, and Incentives, Leading to Lower Costs and Better Care

The program’s overall goal is to give practices the motivation, support, and infrastructure needed to deliver coordinated, high-quality care within the current work environment. Initially, the Blueprint model was pilot tested in three areas and now serves more than half the state’s residents in 14 communities. Early trends in the pilot communities suggest that the program has reduced utilization and growth in health care spending and improved the provision of appropriate care and services.

Community Partnership Uses Lay Health Advisers to Reduce Chronic Disease Risk Factors, Leading to Improvements in Lifestyle and Health in Low-Income African Americans

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Community Partnership Uses Lay Health Advisers to Reduce Chronic Disease Risk Factors, Leading to Improvements in Lifestyle and Health in Low-Income African Americans

The program, which involved two distinct project periods (1999-2000 for planning and 2000-2007 for implementation), improved health-related skills and behaviors (e.g., eating more healthfully, engaging in more physical activity), leading to anecdotal reports of better health. 

Clinical-Community Linkages to Improve Chronic Disease Care

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Clinical-Community Linkages to Improve Chronic Disease Care
The featured Innovations describe a community-level partnership that used lay health advisers and a public-private initiative that leveraged community health teams to improve chronic disease care. 

Improving Patient Flow and Reducing Emergency Department Crowding: A Guide for Hospitals

AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Improving Patient Flow and Reducing Emergency Department Crowding: A Guide for Hospitals

This guide, for hospital administrators and emergency department leaders, provides step-by-step instructions for planning and implementing patient flow improvement strategies to ease emergency department crowding.