Obesity
Obesity is not well understood. The WCHQ Obesity Advisory Group is well aware of that fact and they are focused on addressing the gaps in community education and understanding of this disease on many fronts.
Over the past year, the Advisory Group has emphasized the importance of treatment and support for those with obesity. Earlier in the year, WCHQ Advisory Group members participated in an education session that invited employers to learn more about the consequences on their workforce of not providing supportive treatment for those with obesity. More than 100 representatives from employers across the state attended the virtual webinar; a signal that there is a high level of interest in helping their employees, and their families, with obesity.
At their September meeting, the Advisory Group discussed how education could be made more available across Wisconsin. Members of the group agreed to reach out to employers in their area and invite them to the Obesity Summit scheduled October 13 in Fond du Lac. The Obesity Summit is open to WCHQ provider members, employers and annual partners and corporate sponsors. Registration information is here.
For more information, contact Jen Koberstein.
Chronic Disease
Chronic Kidney Disease
“You improve what you measure”
National claims data point to potential gaps in screening, diagnosing and treatment, all of which are important components to reversing or slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). To help better inform quality initiatives in Wisconsin, the WCHQ Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Advisory Group is tasked with supporting efforts towards early detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with diabetes and hypertension.
If “you improve what you measure,” the CKD Advisory Group is moving in the right direction. Currently, the group is in the process of developing meaningful measures to help inform clinical decisions and support educational opportunities related to diabetes and CKD. The first measures will focus on screening and the second measure is in development.
There is a lot of important work ahead. To find out more about WCHQ’s CKD initiative, contact Sheryl Pierce.
Chronic Disease Learning Collaborative (CDLC), Hypertension Workgroup
A recent workgroup survey revealed that many WCHQ members are engaged in Self-Monitored Blood Pressure (SMBP) programs. In addition, many responded with interest in gaining insight around providing devices and integrating results into EHRs.
To further explore this topic, the CDLC Hypertension workgroup welcomed Dr. Amanpreet Sethi, a practicing family physician and ACO medical director at Advocate Aurora Health (AAH) to share some insights at the September meeting. She presented a unique AAH pilot program combining a multidisciplinary approach to care with technology to help priority populations manage hypertension. Through the process, the blood pressure monitoring program has evolved into a team-based care approach encompassing primary care, pharmacy, care management, and remote patient monitoring resulting in improved medication adherence and blood pressure control.
To find out more or to join the Chronic Disease Learning Collaborative, please reach out to Sheryl Pierce.
Behavioral Health
The WCHQ Behavioral Health Improvement Team members met with NAMI Wisconsin Public Policy and Advocacy Director Sita Diehl and volunteer psychiatrist Richard Immler, MD from Wausau, Wisconsin, to learn more about and to provide their input into a new statewide behavioral health system change initiative. The project, which is being led by NAMI Wisconsin, is called the Wisconsin Mental Health Action Partnership (MHAP). The goal of the project is to collaborate with stakeholders throughout Wisconsin to develop a plan to improve the quality of and access to behavioral health services. This will include input from stakeholders including county staff, the Wisconsin Hospital Association, health systems and advocates. WCHQ members shared their experience with and concern for populations that are often not considered as systems of care are in development.
WCHQ will continue to work with NAMI as a stakeholder throughout the process.
If you are interested in learning more about this initiative or other issues related to behavioral health, contact Jen Koberstein.
Adolescent and Child Health
Understanding and responding to the concerns of parents and care givers of children who are vaccine hesitant requires patience and practice. At the Adolescent and Child Health Assembly September 20, Amy Nicholas, PharmD, and Morgan Anderson, PharmD, from Sanofi presented the national perspective on vaccination rates and explained the AIMS method. The AIMS method is an approach to opening a dialogue with patients and parents of patients who are vaccine hesitant. AIMS, which is an acronym for Announce, Inquire, Mirror and Secure Trust, is a non-defensive way to have a conversation with parents. The approach is patient-focused and based on behavioral science that builds trust.
Melissa Gilkey, PhD from the Gillings school of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina studies individual, interpersonal and organizational approaches to improving the delivery of adolescent vaccine, including HPV. Dr. Gilkey noted that the pandemic has set back vaccination schedules, especially HPV. Similar to Drs. Nicholas and Anderson, Dr. Gilkey offered a communications process for providers to follow that has been successful in helping care givers distinguish fact from fiction as it relates to the HPV vaccination.
Fort Health Care’s Stacy Kutz and Kati Wetzel shared how they have used WCHQ’s data to align their internal goals to the measure results they receive from WCHQ. They described the structure they created to deliver better results and shared their tracking system.
Resources, including videos, spreadsheets and a recording of this webinar are available by contacting Abbey Harburn.
Oral Health
WCHQ Oral Health Collaborative Work Will Incorporate Disparities
Disparities in oral health are well known and a source of concern for dental and medical providers. The WCHQ oral health member practices have been submitting data to WCHQ on a small set of measures. WCHQ is working with members on how the data can be stratified to identify disparities. WCHQ has been collecting and reporting disparities data on medical measures for several year. This work is being closely followed by the oral health collaborative members as a model for setting goals and sharing strategies on how the gaps in oral health care can be closed.
At their September meeting, members of the group shared final plans for the WCHQ Oral Health Summit, which will be held in La Crosse October 7, 2022. CareQuest Institute, Jill Boylston Herndon, the American Dental Association and WCHQ, will present information related to disparities in oral health. Several presentations will focus on value-based care and its applicability to oral health.
Health system members interested in oral health can contact Jen Koberstein for information.