A survey completed by 100% of leaders of diverse care systems in Minnesota participating in an observational study showed little difference in approach to care coordination.
Overall care management processes for chronic diseases improved in primary care practices from 2019 to 2021, despite disruptions in care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent study showed.The pandemic’s far-reaching impacts overwhelmed practices, affecting care for many patients, “especially for those with chronic conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” Leif I.
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Researchers from the HealthPartners Institute and University of Minnesota in Minneapolis conducted an observational analysis of interviews and characteristics of primary care clinics, comparing the strategies, facilitators and barriers to high performance in treating patients with diabetes. The purpose of the study was to learn what strategies and factors seem most important to leaders of primary care clinics to ensure high performance. The percentage of Minnesota diabetes patients who achieved optimal diabetes care measures increased from 12 to 45 percent between 2004 and 2017, while national measures of diabetes care outcomes did not improve significantly around the same time span.
The main difference among the strategies and factors was the degree to which top performing clinics used patient data to guide proactive and outreach methods to intensify treatment and monitor impact. The authors state that while confirmatory studies are needed, clinic leaders should consider
Study Reveals New Hope for Men With Common Urinary Issues
A new systematic review of evidence recommends the use of behavioral self-management treatments for common urinary issues experienced by upwards of 70 percent of older men. Common symptoms include trouble urinating, increased frequency and incontinence. These symptoms can have a substantial negative impact on sleep, social functioning and quality of life. Several guidelines recommend self-management techniques like health education, advice on fluid intake, and bladder retraining; however, in practice, self-management is often excluded from the menu of treatment options that include medication and surgery.
Researchers at Bond University s Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare found that self-management interventions reduced the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms. The reduction in symptoms appeared similar in groups receiving medications versus self-management interventions. However, compared with drugs alone, individu