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Pursuing Perfection Overview

The medical community serving Whatcom County, Washington, includes more than 300 physicians, St. Joseph Hospital – PeaceHealth, and several other health care providers. Together, the hospital and medical community provide care to Whatcom County's population of approximately 170,000. St. Joseph Hospital is one of six hospitals in the PeaceHealth not-for-profit system serving Southeast Alaska, Washington, and Oregon. The 253-bed hospital is the only hospital in Whatcom County.

Phase I project results

During the first phase of Pursuing Perfection, a community wide team of patients, physicians, and hospital staff identified how to improve care to diabetic and congestive heart failure patients and their families through the development of a shared care plan, creation of care teams, and the redesign of services in the hospital, clinics and community. The team developed a preliminary financial model that will inform policymakers about the impact of changes to health care services across a community. A cross-organizational leadership board of physician groups, payers, consumers, and hospital administrators was created to ensure cross-organizational alignment of services to support patient choice and evidence-based care.

Phase 2 project results

Clinical improvement for diabetes and heart failure patients

For patients with Clinical Care Specialists, we have improved access to services, and increased patient satisfaction. In a majority of these patients, their health status was improved or maintained over time in the dimensions of quality of life, physical functioning and improvement in mood [reduction of depression] as reported by patients. Additionally, patients with diabetes receiving the services of the clinical care specialists had the best results related to reduced readmission and emergency room visits for hypoglycemia or ketoacidosis. The pilot sites showed better results than patients from other sites in Whatcom County. Additionally, 4 of the 5 pilots sites underwent clinic redesign efforts which improved access for all patients to services. Use of group visits instead of a traditional 1:1 office visit resulted in significant improvement in health outcomes and satisfaction of patients with diabetes. While these results are promising, further work needs to be done to truly change the experience of care for every patient in Whatcom County.

Phase 3 project plans

With additional funding from Robert Wood Johnson and others, efforts begun in Phase 2 will continue. New clinics are participating in the changes with more to join in the next year. This phase will focus on risk screening and prevention of diabetes and heart failure through community outreach. Additionally, the availability of The Shared Care Plan to Whatcom County community members who wish to be more active partners in their care will begin.

For more information, please contact us.

 

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© 2004 Whatcom County Pursuing Perfection Project. All Rights Reserved. Project participants: Center for Senior Health, Community Health Plans of Washington, Family Care Network, Group Health Cooperative, North Cascade Cardiology, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Hospital, and Sea Mar Community Health Centers.