Table 1

Defining the local context prior to introducing shared medical appointments (SMAs)

Care System Components
Defined via Local Diabetes Care Context
Existing Diabetes Care-Based Practices Pre-SMA (January 2005)

Supramacro
VHA Central Office
Initiatives on outpatient quality with necessity to figure out how to operationalize locally


Advanced Clinic Access mandate to reduce waiting times; increase efficiency


Chronic Disease Index (a series of performance measures) emerging as a priority


Electronic medical record tracking performance measures & providing feedback

Macro
Cleveland Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Pursue current mandate: Advanced Clinic Access to reduce waiting times for appointments


Meetings about intermediate diabetes care goals


Wanted updates about how goals were going to be met


Primary care clinics focus on medical training not quality care


Longer-term major construction creating space constraints

Mesosystems
Primary care clinics
Monthly reports about meeting diabetes care goals


Monthly clinic meetings review & allocate resources


No formal process to identify and refer high-risk patients


Individual meetings with silo representatives


Go to macro level for change if needed


Other services
Primary care provider is additional signer on notes for patients



Clinical pharmacy
Individual referral to education (meds and adherence)




Medication algorithms (augment/adjust; problems)



Health Psychologist
Referral to education: Medication adherence; barriers



Nursing
Nurse manager meeting & viewed separately



Clerks
Make appointments for follow-up/referrals


Microsystems
Individual Units
One-on-one meetings with patient


Intra-micro
~1,500 with A1c > 9%
Come for individual visits (every 3 months recommended)
Patient
High-risk
Follow-up with referrals to other services including:


Pick-up new medications now and then see:


Clinical pharmacist to change medications (1 month)


Lab work prior to next visit


Nurse
2 Licensed practical nurses
Take vital signs, updates from patient, etc.

4 Registered nurses
Provide case management/education as referred


Provider
Primary care provider with diabetes patient:
Expected to meet performance measures but limited support


Worked individually with patient

8 Part-time attendings
Goals A1c < 9%; LDL-cholesterol < 100 mg/dL; systolic blood pressure < 140 mmHg

5 Nurse practitioners
Receive scores regarding % of patients meeting goals

1 Physician assistant
If patient not meeting measures, then educate patient via:

Preceptors (5 new)
Referrals for Consults to one or more (variable) specialists →

Residents (60/year)
Nurse; Clinical Pharmacist; Nutritionist; Endocrinologist/Diabetologist


Clinic; Health Psychologist ; Diabetes Self-management classes


*Primary focus: medications to get to goal

Kirsh et al. Implementation Science 2008 3:34   doi:10.1186/1748-5908-3-34