Health Plan Performance Improvement Project: Blood Pressure Control for Members with Diabetes

Five health plans—Blue Plus, HealthPartners, MHP, Medica, and UCare—are breaking new ground in project implementation for the Diabetes and Blood Pressure Control Performance Improvement Project (PIP) launched in 2010. Rather than focus only on broad member and provider outreach strategies, each health plan is collaborating with an individual clinic to assist providers and staff in the development of a quality improvement project that advances the goal of optimum blood pressure control for patients with diabetes. The overall goal is for partner clinics to improve their reported Minnesota Community Measurement rate for blood pressure, and to improve population-based HEDIS measures for Optimal Diabetes Care.

More information on this project in PIP News 2010, page 3. (10-page PDF)

Resources for care coordinators and providers

Provider training series

Managing BP to Goal in Adults with Diabetes. Discusses how to assist adults with diabetes manage their blood pressure. Presented by Patrick J. O’Connor MD, MPH, senior clinical investigator, HealthPartners Research Foundation. (28-minute audio file, 6/1/09)

Physician-Pharmacist Team Approach to Treating Hypertension in the Diabetic Patient. Outlines common barriers to medication adherence. Presented by Amanda Brummel, PharmD, medication therapy management manager, Fairview Health Systems; and Ruth Seabaugh, PharmD, BCPS, Fairview Physician Associates. (36-minute audio file, 6/14/09)

Promoting Accurate Measurement and Self-Management of Blood Pressure. Promotes teaching patients how to manage their blood pressure to help achieve an accurate measurement. Presented by Karen L. Margolis, MD, senior clinical investigator, HealthPartners Research Foundation. (38-minute audio file, 5/21/09)

Special Needs Population, Seriously Mentally Ill, Importance of Hypertension Management. Discusses the importance of managing blood pressure for individuals with mental illness. Presented by Michael A. Trangle, MD, associate medical director for behavioral health, HealthPartners. (24-minute audio file, 6/10/09)

Care coordinator training, February 2010

Managing BP to Goal in Adults with Diabetes. Information to guide providers to assist adults with diabetes manage their blood pressure. Presented by Patrick J. O’Connor MD, MPH, senior clinical investigator, HealthPartners Research Foundation. (28-minute audio file, 9/21/10)

• Managing BP to Goal in Adults with Diabetes Patrick J. O'Connor, MD, MPH, Senior Clinical Investigator, HealthPartners Research Foundation. Handout (18-page PDF)
• Blood Pressure Control for Members with Diabetes 2010 Performance Improvement Project. Handout (8-page PDF)

Diabetes blood pressure clinic quality improvement toolkit

Tools and resources to help you improve and processes and patient-care in your clinic. (23-page PDF)

Contact information

For more information on the PIPs, please contact Karla Weng, program manager, 952-853-8570.