21 Sep Quality Performance Measures Should Include Hypoglycemia Assessments
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Victor Montori
Victor M. Montori, MD MSc
Knowledge and Evaluation Research Unit in Endocrinology
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Hypoglycemia can acutely disrupt patients’ lives through symptoms ranging from bothersome to life-threatening; worsen quality of life; and hinder medication adherence and glycemic control. Hypoglycemia is now known to increase risk of mortality, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular events. In order to improve the quality of diabetes care, healthcare organizations use publicly reported performance measures for quality measurement and improvement, and pay-for-performance initiatives. The degree to which existing performance measures are aligned with guidelines, particularly in regard to hypoglycemia avoidance, is uncertain.
MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?
Response: All diabetes guidelines advocate for hypoglycemia assessment and treatment, while less than 10% of the corresponding quality measurement and reporting initiatives included ascertainment of severe hypoglycemia and none prioritized prevention of hypoglycemia or its treatment.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: There is a need to develop performance measures that assess hypoglycemia and act as counterbalance (safety) in the care of patients with diabetes.
What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Hypoglycemia performance measures should be taken into account by quality initiative members. Studies that test and validate a particular hypoglycemia performance measure are needed.
MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.
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Last Updated on September 21, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD